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Naroda-Patiya Riot Case: Gujarat HC acquits former BJP minister Maya Kodnani

97 people, including 36 women and 35 children, were killed in Naroda Patiya area of Ahmedabad on 28 February, 2002.

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The Gujarat High Court on Friday acquitted former BJP minister Maya Kodnani in 2002 Naroda Patiya riot case. The court upheld the conviction of former Bajrang Dal Babu Bajrangi. 

Kodnani, who was among 32 people convicted in the case by a special court, had moved the High Court against the verdict. Kodnani is currently out on bail. 

Of 32 convicts, the  High court acquitted 17 people including Kodnani while upholding the conviction of 12 others. The verdict on two accused is awaited while one accused died during the course of hearing. 

"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," Special Public Prosecutor Prashant Desai said. 

A division bench of Justices Harsha Devani and A S Supehiya pronounced the verdict. The bench said charges against Kodnani could not be established.

Naroda Patiya riot is one of the worst incidents which followed the Godhra train burning incident of February 27, 2002, in which 59 kar sevaks were killed. 97 people, including 36 women and 35 children, from the Muslim community were killed in Naroda Patiya area of Ahmedabad on 28 February, 2002. 

In August 2012, a special court for SIT cases had sentenced 32 people, including Kodnani, to life imprisonment.

The trial court had held that she was the mastermind of the violence in Naroda area.

Kodnani was sentenced to 28 years of imprisonment. Another high-profile accused, former Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi, was given life imprisonment till death.

While the convicts challenged the lower court's order in the high court, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) appealed against the acquittal of 29 people.

(With PTI inputs)

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