Shaken Maya arrives at SIT office in tears

Gandhinagar went abuzz as the news of Maya Kodnani's resignation spread like fire. The special investigation team (SIT) arrested Kodnani after the high court rejected her anticipatory bail plea on Friday morning. Both Kodnani and former VHP leader Jaideep Patel were arrested at the SIT office in old Sachivalaya on Friday afternoon for their alleged involvement in the 2002 riots.

Kodnani arrived at the SIT office in her personal car accompanied by her husband Surendra, brother Naran Meghani, sister, nephew and a handful of supporters. She seemed shaken by the day's event and was in tears when she got out of the car. With eyes wet and face lowered, Kodnani rushed inside the office and refused to talk to the hundreds of media persons gathered on the spot.

Patel arrived almost at the same time with his daughter, son, sister and brother-in-law, followed by a fleet of cars and some 50-60 supporters. As the saffron leader made his way to the office, supporters did their bit by offering solace and shouting 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Mayaben-Jaideepbhai tum age badho hum tumhare saath hain (You go ahead, we are there with you).

However, unlike Kodnani, Patel did not keep mum. "We respect the law and accept the high court's order. We will not approach the Supreme Court; we will instead seek regular bail in the sessions court," he told the reporters standing outside the SIT office.

The premises of the old Sachivalaya building where SIT is located resonated with slogans like 'Jai Shree Ram' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. Some of Kodnani's supporters told the media persons that she was being falsely implicated by some who want her out of politics.

Atul Vaidhya, a former VHP worker and an accused in the Gulbarg rioting case, told DNA that the entire Hindu society is there to back Kodnani and Patel, and they will surely get out of the controversy soon.