Twitter
Advertisement

Minister, VHP leader want ‘conspiracy’ charge dropped

The application has been filed by Kodnani and Patel, along with 80 other accused in the case, at a time when the special court is going to frame charges against all the accused this week

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin
Former minister Maya Kodnani and former Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Jaideep Patel have moved an application before the special court, seeking that 'conspiracy' charges against them be dropped in the Naroda Gam massacre case. The application will come up for hearing on Wednesday.

The application has been filed by Kodnani and Patel, along with 80 other accused in the case, at a time when the special court is going to frame charges against all the accused this week. In the Naroda Gam massacre case, eight persons were lynched to death on February 28, 2002.

"In the application, the accused stated that there are no evidences leading to charges of conspiracy in the case," said sources in the SIT.  Counsel for the accused, Chetan Shah, said: "We have moved the application to drop 'conspiracy' charges against all 82 accused, including Maya Kodnani and Jaideep Patel."

The application stated that, "There is nothing on record to remotely suggest that the accused have committed an offence punishable under section 120B (conspiracy) of IPC.
The entire papers, including statements of witnesses submitted along with the charge sheet, do not imply complicity of any of the accused in an offence section under 120B."

It further said: "Even assuming without admitting the nature of allegations levelled against all the accused, the same are not even prima facie indicative of the fact that the accused have committed an offence under section 120B. Merely on the basis of surmises, conjectures and assertions, without any evidence, made by the prosecution, the accused cannot be charged for an offence.

The court just has to see that prima facie there is a case against the accused. There is nothing on record to even suggest that the present case falls within the scope and ambit of section 120B." Nigam Shukla, special counsel for SIT, said: "We are going to oppose the application when the plea comes up for hearing on Wednesday."
Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement