Upholds Babu Bajrangi’s life imprisonment
AHMEDABAD / Agencies
The Gujarat High Court on Friday acquitted former BJP minister Maya Kodnani, sentenced to 28 years in prison for leading the Naroda Patiya massacre in 2002 in which 97 people were killed.
The court, however, upheld the life imprisonment of Bajrang Dal leader Babu Banrangi.
The Court found Babubhai Patel alias Babu Bajrangi guilty and upheld his conviction. Suresh Langado alias Richard Chhara was also found guilty.
Maya Kodnani was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by a trial court for inciting a mob to exact revenge for the deaths of kar sevaks killed in the Godhra train carnage in 2002.
The court was hearing 11 appeal petitions moved by the convicts, the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the families of the victims of the riots.
The division bench had reserved its order in August last year. While all the convicts appealed against their convictions, the SIT sought enhancing sentences of three convicts, including former Bajrang Dal leader Babubhai Patel.
It also appealed against the acquittal of seven accused. The kin of the victims appealed against the acquittal of 29 accused.