Wont hear plea against Kodnani bail: HC judge

The Gujarat High Court judge who was to decide on the applications seeking cancellation of anticipatory bail granted to state minister Maya Kodnani...

The Gujarat High Court judge who was to decide on the applications seeking cancellation of anticipatory bail granted to state minister Maya Kodnani and former VHP general secretary Jaydeep Patel refused to hear the matter on Thursday.

Justice Anant Surendraray Dave did not give a reason why he did not want to hear the applications. When the matter came up for hearing before Justice Dave in the morning,he said: Not before me.

Another judge will now hear the matter,on a fresh date that will be decided later.

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The applications,three in all,were moved by the Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the 2002 Naroda Gam and Naroda Patiya massacre cases,in which 95 people were killed.

The two cases are among the 10 most heinous crimes during the 2002 riots which are being investigated by SIT on the apex courts orders.

Incidentally,Justice Dave who was appointed as a Gujarat High Court judge in 2004 is known for bold orders. About seven months ago,he had rejected the regular bail granted to police officials Dinesh MN of Rajasthan and N K Amin of Gujarat,who were involved in the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case.