The ruling BJP today welcomed the Gujarat High Court's verdict acquitting former minister Maya Kodnani and some others in the Naroda-Patiya massacre case, while the victims' lawyer said they were disappointed, and would move the Apex court.
The ruling BJP today welcomed the Gujarat High Court's verdict acquitting former minister Maya Kodnani and some others in the Naroda-Patiya massacre case, while the victims' lawyer said they were disappointed, and would move the Apex court.
Former VHP leader Pravin Togadia said he was delighted, and the state must not challenge the acquittals.
The high court, hearing various appeals, acquitted 18 persons including Kodnani today. It upheld conviction of 13 persons including former Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi, and convicted another three accused, earlier acquitted by the trial court.
Advocate Shamshad Pathan, who represented riot victims, said their kin were disappointed by the acquittals, and planned to file appeal in the Supreme Court.
"The judgement is saddening for all those who had faith in judiciary and in Constitution for delivering justice.
"The Special Investigation Team did not probe the case properly. As far as Maya Kodnani is concerned, statements and evidence against Babu Bajrangi also apply to her. We will go through the judgement and challenge it before the Supreme Court," advocate Pathan said.
BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel welcomed the judgement.
"We are glad that Maya-ben has been acquitted by the high court. She and her family have got relief from the ordeal they had to go through (after her conviction)," he said.
Firebrand Hindutva leader Pravin Togadia said the state government should not challenge the acquittal of Kodnani and others in the Supreme Court.
"Hindu Advocate Forum" will provide legal help to Bajrangi and others, he said.
"I express delight that Maya-ben and others have been acquitted. I would also demand that the government should not go to the Supreme Court to challenge the acquittals. Bajrangi and others who have been convicted should move the SC and we will arrange free legal aid for them. I would also ask the Gujarat government to go easy on their appeals," he said.
Kodnani's husband Surendra Kodnani said he had "full faith in judiciary."
Sakeela Ansari, eight members of whose family were killed during the riot, and who herself had deposed during the trial, said the judiciary had failed her.
"This is a dark day. I had seen with my own eyes what happened there. If after saying all this (in the court) the court acquits those who were involved in kiling the members of my family, then what kind of justice is this?" she said.
"I had seen Maya Kodnani at a distance of just 25-30 metres. I am disappointed by the verdict. Maya-ben had come not once but twice to the area on the day of the incident. How can the court deny what we had seen from our own eyes," said another victim, Salim Sheikh, whose house was damaged during the riot and who too had deposed during the trial.
The high court said in its verdict that prosecution witnesses' statements about Kodnani were contradictory, and the charge of conspiracy wasn't proved against her.
A mob killed 97 people, most of them from a minority community, in Naroda Patiya area of Ahmedabad on February 28, 2002, a day after the torching of the Sabarmati Express at Godhra which triggered state-wide riots.
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