28 Naroda Patia convicts file appeals in Gujarat HC

BJP MLA Maya Kodnani, former Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi and 27 others convicted in the Naroda Patia massacre case have filed appeals in the Gujarat high court against their jail sentences. They were sentenced to different periods of imprisonment by special judge Jyotsna Yagnik two months back. Their appeals are likely to come up for hearing next week.

BJP MP in the Rajya Sabha, Ram Jethmalani, and his son Mahesh will appear on behalf of Kodnani while the case of others will be argued by senior counsel in high court, Yogesh Lakhani.
“We have filed appeals for 29 out of the 32 people convicted in the case. The appeals are likely to come up for hearing soon,” said Pravin Gondalia, the advocate who filed the appeals for the convicts.

Kodnani has challenged her 28-year jail term on the ground that there were many contradictions in the statements and testimonies of the eyewitnesses. The witnesses had not mentioned her name during the first investigation of the case that was conducted by the Gujarat police. However, they had spoken about her role after six years when the Supreme Court-appointed SIT took over the investigation, Kodnani has stated in her appeal.

She has also questioned witnesses’ claim that she was present at the riot spot by pointing to the ‘contradictions’ in the testimonies of witnesses and evidences put up by the SIT.

On August 31, 2012, special judge Jyotsna Yagnik had sentenced Maya Kodnani to 28 years in prison.