Amit Shah summoned as Kodnani witness

A special court has issued summons to BJP president Amit Shah to appear before it on September 18 as a defence witness for former minister Maya Kodnani in connection to the 2002 Naroda Gam riots case.

Special court judge PB Desai also made it clear that it will not re-issue the summons in case he fails to appear on the scheduled date.

Kodnani's advocate Amit Patel submitted before the court Shah's residential address in the city after which the summons were issued. On two previous occasions, Kodnani had failed to furnish the address to which the summons were to be issued.

Stating she was not present at Naroda Gam on February 28, 2002, the day the massacre took place, Kodnani claimed she had attended the assembly session before going to Sola civil hospital, where Amit Shah was also present. Kodnani is seeking Shah's testimony to prove her innocence. BJP insiders say the party chief is unlikely to appear as a witness in the case.

Eleven persons belonging to the minority community were killed in the Naroda Gam massacre on February 28, a day after 59 persons were killed in the Sabarmati Train carnage.

Kodnani is sentenced to 28 years in jail in the Naroda Patiya massacre case. She is presently out on bail on health grounds.

JAIL SENTENCE

• Kodnani is already convicted and sentenced to 28 years in jail in the Naroda-Patiya massacre case in which 97 persons were killed.
   
• She is presently out on bail on the grounds that her health is not good.