Naroda Patiya Case: Gujarat HC Acquits 17 People, Riot Victim Asks if She Killed Her Children

She said that today Maya Kodani has been acquitted, "two years later Babu Bajrangi will be acquitted". Following the Godhra riots in Gujarat, at least 97 Muslims were killed in Naroda Patiya riots.

Updated: April 21, 2018 1:01 AM IST

By India.com News Desk

Naroda Patiya riot victim
Naroda Patiya riot victim

New Delhi, Apr 20: The Gujarat High Court on Friday acquitted 17 people in the 2002 Naroda Patiya riot case, one of the victims said that eight members of her family were killed in front of her eyes. She said that today Maya Kodani has been acquitted, “two years later Babu Bajrangi will be acquitted”. Following the Godhra riots in Gujarat, at least 97 Muslims were killed in Naroda Patiya riots.

“Eight members of our family were killed before our eyes. If they are innocent, did we kill our children? Maya Kodnani has been declared innocent, two years later Babu Bajrangi will be acquitted,” she said, news agency ANI reported. Out of the 32 convicts in the case, the HC acquitted 17 people, including former BJP minister Maya Kodnani, and upheld the conviction of 12, including Babu Bajrangi.

The verdict on two others is awaited. Along with Kodnani, 16 others were acquitted. “All 12 convicts have been awarded 21 years of imprisonment without remission. 11 witnesses gave different statements on Maya Kodnani’s presence at the location but there were contradictions,” Prashant Desai, Special Public Prosecutor, was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

It was in the year 2012 when a special court had sentenced 32 people to life imprisonment including Kodnani and Bajrangi. In the ruling, seven accused were given enhanced life imprisonment of 21 years and the remaining were given simple life imprisonment for 14 years. Following the sentencing, all the convicts in the Naroda Patiya riot case had appealed against their conviction in the High Court.

“In the record of this case, the witnesses have stated that all the disturbances were started and in fact reached its peak after the arrival of Kodnani. It stands proved beyond all reasonable doubt that she was present and participated in the crime on that day,” the court had ruled in August 2012, sentencing Kodnani to 28 years in imprisonment.

“Our Minister Kodnani was wrongfully implicated in the Naroda Patiya massacre case. But today she has been found innocent. We are happy with the verdict and welcome the decision. She has worked hard for the party and definitely, she will be given an active role in the party if she wishes to continue,” Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said.

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