A special SIT court in Ahmedabad cleared all 67 defendants of all charges in the Naroda Gam massacre, which occurred on February 28, 2002, during the post-Godhra riots, and resulted in the deaths of 11 people. Former minister Maya Kodnani, Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi, former VHP general secretary Jaydeep Patel, and former municipal councillor of the area Vallabh Patel were among those who were cleared of 12 different charges, including murder, criminal conspiracy, rioting, and arson.
The 65 defendants in the case applauded and chanted "Jai Shri Ram" in the courtroom as the verdict of acquittal was announced, 21 years after the occurrence and 14 years after the trial had begun. Special judge S K Baxi announced her decision on the dais, saying, "All the accused are acquitted of all the charges." Many of the defendants, including Kodnani, started crying. Since 11 am, the accused and their solicitors have been awaiting the decision.
Stepping out of the courtroom, Kodnani told media persons, “I want to thank God. Thanks to the Almighty. Truth has prevailed."
In a separate riots case from 2002 involving Naroda Patia, when 97 people were killed, Kodnani and Bajrangi had previously been found guilty. In 2012, a SIT court sentenced them to life in jail. The Gujarat High Court cleared her later in 2018 but affirmed Bajrangi's conviction. According to the victim's kin's attorney, Shamshad Pathan, they disagree with the decision and will appeal it to the supreme court.
Naroda Gam is one of the nine 2002 Gujarat riot cases that the Supreme Court tasked SIT to probe further. It arrested 37 more accused and the trial commenced in 2009 after the apex court ordered the establishment of special courts for speedy prosecution.
SIT to challenge acquittals
Meanwhile, the SIT is preparing to challenge before the Gujarat high court the a cquittals recorded by the special court in the 2002 Naroda Gam massacre case last week, according to top sources. Sources in the SIT said that the probe agency firmly believes that it had placed on record strong, reliable and irrefutable evidence against the accused persons in this case.