This is the third case of the 2002 riots at Ode village, probed by the Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team, where the court will pronounce the verdict.
The verdict in the post-Godhra riot case at Ode village in Anand where three persons including two women were killed a decade ago is likely to be pronounced on May 4.
Additional Sessions Judge RM Sareen who is presiding over the case is likely to pronounce the judgment with regard to 40 accused in the case.
Special public prosecutor in the case Bipin C Trivedi said that during the hearing on the case today, judge decided on May 4 for pronouncement of the judgment.
This is the third case of the 2002 riots at Ode village, probed by the Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT), where the court will pronounce the verdict.
According to details of this case, during communal violence that broke out in Ode village of Anand after the Godhra train burning incident on February 27, 2002, three persons including two women were burnt to death by a mob in Malav Bhagol area of the village.
But the FIR in the matter was registered on March 5, after some of the victims reported the incident while in relief camp.
Based on the FIR initially 43 persons were arrested, out of which two fled out of India, while four others jumped bail and are still absconding.
Charges were framed against 37 persons but during the trial an application under section 319 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) was filed by some of the victims, following which four more persons were included as accused, taking the number of accused who were tried to 41.
However, one of the accused died in February this year and the judge will pronounce verdict in the case involving 40 accused on May 4.
According to special public prosecutor Trivedi, over 70 witnesses were examined by the court besides 150 documentary evidences.
Trivedi said that during his submissions, he had contended that the accused had conspired to burn alive the victims in Malav Bhagol.
In an another 2002 riot cases of Ode village where 23 people were burnt to death in Pirwali Bhagol area, the designated court had awarded life sentence to 23 accused and acquitted as many others on April 12.
While in a case where one person was killed in Suriwali Bhagol area, all 14 accused were let off for lack of evidence by the court in Anand.
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