Photo Credit: Hanif Sindhi, Mail Today 

The total number of people convicted in the case now stands at 15 including Babu Bajrangi whose conviction was upheld. Earlier 12 people had been convicted On Friday, the Gujarat HC reversed the acquittals of three others. The court upheld the conviction of Babu Bajrangi. Suresh a.k.a Richard Charra has also been found guilty. Charra had been accused of rape and had earlier offered the ridiculous defence that he could not have raped a Muslim woman as he was married to one! Meanwhile, Kodnani’s personal assistant KS Chabda was also acquitted.
 
What happened in Naroda Patiya
 
On February 28, 2002, a mob of nearly 5000 people stabbed, burnt alive, looted, raped and sexually assaulted the residents of Naroda Patiya, a mostly Muslim neighbourhood in the suburbs of Ahmedabad. The mob comprised members of Bajrang Dal and the carnage lasted over 10 hours during a ‘bandh’ call given by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in wake of the Godhra Train Burning incident. Official death toll in the Naroda Patiya case stands at 97.
 
A Special Investigation Team had said that a day after the Godhra incident, Maya Kodnani incited mobs and was seen at the spot by 11 witnesses. Witnesses had told the court that she handed out swords to rioters, exhorted them to attack Muslims and at one point fired a pistol. Even phone records placed Kodnani in Naroda at the time of the incident.
 
How the case progressed
 
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to investigate various Gujarat riots cases. Special judge Jyotsna Yagnik had convicted 31 others along with Maya Kodnani on August 29, 2012. 29 people were acquitted for lack of evidence. Babu Bajrangi was first awarded life sentence, but this was later commuted to 21 years in prison. Maya Kodnani was granted bail due to ill health in 2014. The convicts appealed the case in the Gujarat High Court where hearing concluded in August 2017.
 
You can read more about the August 2012 Naroda Patiya judgment here.
 
The Gujarat HC judgment
 
The Gujarat High Court acquitted Kodnani stating they found no evidence of a criminal conspiracy in the riots. The HC noted that none of the 11 witnesses had named Kodnani when the case was being registered. “Eleven witnesses gave different statements on Maya Kodnani’s presence at the location, there were contradictions,” said special public prosecutor Prashant Desai. 
 
Advocate Suhel Tirmizi says, “This acquittal is worth challenging and we have sufficient material against Maya Kodnani. We hope and wish victims’ families and survivors would approach the Supreme Court with CJP and appeal against this judgment.” Tirmizi also said that the SC rejected not only a demand for compensation for the victims but also the demand for further investigation in the case.
 

The post Naroda Patiya Case: Guj HC lets Maya Kodnani walk free, Babu Bajrangi stays behind bars appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Excerpts from the Evidence on Oath:
“…The incident happened on 28-2-2002. On that day there was a bandh call. On 27-2-2002, when I came back from work I came to know that, there is a bandh call on 28-2-2002….On 27-2-2002, my husband had gone to Siddhpur to attend a wedding. On 27-2-2002 I and my both daughters were there at the house. And on that day after having dinner, we slept being informed that the next day there is a bandh call…..On 28-2-2002, we woke up, had our breakfast, and then I went to bring the water from the tap, which is beside our chawl. There at the tap the people of our chawl told that, the mob of the Hindus had gathered near the Noorani Mosque, and they are destroying there, burning everything. We had gathered at the place where there is a Police chowky at present. From the place where we were standing we saw that, the Police was also standing along with the persons of the mob and the Police was firing at the Muslims. The Police was firing the teargas cells on the Muslims. In this firing, three persons were injured by bullets. They were Aabidali, Khalid and Peeru. The time would be around 9:00-9:30 in the morning. Aabidbhai died on the spot while Khalid and Peerubhai are alive today.

“….The persons from the mob, which I saw, were shouting ‘Maaro Kaaapo’. Some of the persons in the mob had worn white vests, khaki colored briefs and they had tied saffron colored strips on their head. The persons in the mob were Hindus and had weapons like sword, hockey sticks, pipes, etc. In front of this mob were the Police who, instead of protecting us were using lathis to chase us away… The mobs was burning and destroying everything in our chawl…. We fled into the field at Javannagar.

“…At about 2:00-3:00 in the afternoon, we went to the S.R.P. quarters from there. We were not allowed to enter there and were made to run away from there. We were told by SRP men that, “today you will have to die.” From the S.R.P. quarters we went to the Gopi Gangotri society. There also we were not allowed to sit and were shouting ‘Maaro Kaapo’ we were not given shelter there. Then the burning stones, stones were thrown on the Muslims from the S.T. workshop….This was around 6:00 in the evening….

“…Then we went and sat near the House of Jay Bhavani. There a Police man came and told that, “we will take you in the vehicles in your safety” we took this to be true and went along with the Police but there also a big mob of the Hindus was there. At that time from the other side also a big mob of the Hindus also came there and we were surrounded by them. The place where we were surrounded was the lane of the Gangotri Gopi society. At that time my both daughters, my brother and sister-in-law, my mother, my nephew Akram were there with me. Then they started shouting ‘Maaaro, Kaapo’. There we got separated and my both daughters and mother were with me. My mother’s name is Mumtaz…..At that time the mob of the Hindus pulled away my mother and killed and burnt her in front of my eyes.

“…At this time both my daughters were with me. My elder daughter Farhana was pulled away by a person from the mob. Her clothes were removed and from among the persons in the mob, 4-5 of them raped her. My younger daughter Reshma was hit on both her hands with a pipe and her hands were fractured. The persons in the mob sprinkled petrol on the backside of my body and hands and burnt me…. At around this time I started rolling on the road to put off the fire. My younger daughter was also with me at this time. Both of us rolled on the road….The persons in the mob pulled away a girl named Zarina who was present there. She was also raped and her hands were cut off…

“What was shocking was that at this time a Police jeep came there. They hurled abusive words to us and said, “if you are alive then come out, I am sending a truck”. Then the truck came and whoever were alive there were taken to the Civil Hospital in the truck. We reached the hospital at around 9:00-9:30 in the night.”

Shakilabanu Feroz Ahmed Ansari Survivor & Eyewitness of NarodaPatia Massacre, in which at least 110 persons were killed in broad daylight on 28.2.2002
Sessions case No.-235/09 with Session case no. – 236/09, 241/09, 242/09, 243/09, 245/09, 246/09, 270/09
 
Excerpts from the Evidence on Oath:
“The riots happened on 28-2-2002. On that day I had come to my mother for Idd. My mother’s name is Kudrabibi. On that day my mother Kudrabibi, my elder brother Mehboob, my younger brother Sabbir Ahmed, my elder sister-in-law bibibanu, my younger sister-in-law Zubeidabanu, the three children of my elder brother Shabnambanu, Safiq Ahmed and Parvin and the three children of my younger brother Shaminabanu, Mohammed Asif and Nadeem, were at home. At that time my former husband Riyazhussain was also with us….

“…My mother worked in the jute factory. She worked from 8 in the morning till 8 in the evening. On the day the riot happened, my mother had gone to Charanagar factory at 8 in the morning. At about 9 in the morning my mother came back home from the jute factory because her boss told her, “today is a bandh call, go back home.” My mother told this to us that why she came back.

“…My mother also told us that on her way back she saw on the road that the mob of the Hindus were standing with a saffron colored strip tied on their head. The person of the mob had swords, sticks, iron rod, etc in their hands. They were damaging the Noorani mosque and were forcing the shops to close down. On hearing this, my elder brother Mehboob went to the mosque to bring my nieces and nephews, who had gone to the mosque to recite Quran Sharif. My brother brought them home safely. On hearing this we also came outside. All my family members came outside. We were standing outside our lane near another lane and seeing. We saw that, the mob of the Hindus were destroying everything. They were breaking the shops and carts. They were burning the Noorani mosque. The persons in the mob had weapons like iron rod, swords, sticks in their hands. We came to know that the Maulana, Imam of mosque were beaten. After seeing and hearing all this we fled back to our houses….

“….We hid in our houses. At this time at about 12:00 in the afternoon we came to know that, the mob is coming towards the inner side of our chawl. So we left our house and went away towards Javannagar. There my sister Zarina lives and we went and sat in her house. We stayed at her house for two to two and a half hours.

“…When we heard the mob is coming towards Javannagar, we left the house of Zarina and went towards the S.R.P. godown, pleading to be let inside. Near the S.R.P. quarters a Police man with khaki uniform was standing. My mother requested him that, “let us go inside”, but the Police man said, “we won’t let you in, today you will die in any condition.” This Police man hit my mother in the leg with stick. We ran from there….

“….We went towards Gangotri society in a shop with shutter and sat there. There were other persons in that shop. We were hiding there. There Bhavani Chara, Guddu Chara, Sehzad Chara, Manu Bhangi came. We were told that, “don’t panic and come, I am making arrangement for your food.” After hearing this we went along with Bhavani. He took us towards Gopinath society and we sat on the terrace of that society. There also the sound of the mob started coming and we came to know that the mob is coming this side and so we came out from there also. We came and sat on the terrace of another house. There I and my mother came down from the terrace. My mother offered Bhavani, “Whatever cash, gold, ornaments we are having you take all that, but show us the way to go out.” Bhavani told that, “I am showing you the way towards Naroda, you go from there.”…

“…There was a big crowd there. At this time I was separated from my family. …After I got separated from my family members they went on going further and further. My mother, elder brother Mehboob, younger brother Sabbir Ahmed and their children, younger brother’s wife, etc all went forward. I saw them going forward. When my family members were going ahead, Bhavani gave an indication to the mob. The mob had many weapons, petrol, diesel, etc with them. They killed my family members. This mob who killed my family members in front of my eyes had Guddu Chara, Bhavani, Sehzad Chara, Manu Bhangi and Suresh Langda in the mob. This mob sprinkled petrol on my family members and burnt them alive. My three months old niece was thrown in the fire by this mob. After seeing all this I went and hid on one of the terrace….

“…There were other Muslim persons with my family members and they were also burnt alive by the mob. These burning people were shouting for help. I was not in a position to go and save these people because if I went then these people in the mob would kill me also. So I remained hidden on the terrace. I was watching everything from the terrace.

“…The terrace on which I was hidden there were other Muslim persons there and they were talking that Jaadi khala and Hasanbhai Golawala of our chawl were burnt alive in which Hasan Golawala was tied to a cot and burnt. On the terrace I also came to know that, there was a handicapped boy in our mohalla who was told by the mob that ‘you speak Hey Ram and we will spare you’. This handicapped boy told that, ‘I will die but will not speak Hey Ram’. So the mob sprinkled petrol over him and burnt him. Like this I hid on the terrace….

“Late night the Police vehicles came and took us to the Shah Alam Relief Camp.”
 

The post Excerpts of Women Testimonies on 376 Violations (Gender Violence) Naroda Patiya Trial appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Naroda Patiya and Gulberg, are, arguably, two of the two worst incidents of the reprisal killings that rocked the state as bodies of the Godhra mass arson victims were given to VHP strongman Jaideep Patel and thereafter paraded in angry processions in Ahmedabad and elsewhere. Three hundred such incidents were clocked in 19 of the state’s 25 districts.

On that day, August 29, 2012, women survivors and witnesses, who had testified bravely in the face of stiff threats, intimidation and opposition, haield the verdict. Will justice prevail yet again? Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) has represented the survivors. Counsel for the SIT has been Prashant Desai before the court. In all 32 persons had been convicted including former BJP MLA and minister in the Narendra Modi cabinet, Smt Maya Kodnani, Babu Bajrangi, Bipin Panchal, Ashok Sindhi and Kishan Korani (sitting corporator, accused No 20) have  been convicted. Twenty-nine of the accused were acquitted.CJP  has argued against the acquittals too before the Gujarat High Court.

In the interim five years, through controversial decisions, former BJP MLA and former minister (she was elevated after the carnage by then chief minister Narendra Modi to the berth) was granted bail, first by the High Court and then this was confirmed by the Supreme Court. It was only CJP for the survivors that had contested the grant of bail to this powerful accused.

The over 1,900 page judgement of Judge Jyotsnana Yagnik (that may be read here) has been hailed for its thorough expolaration of the contours of criminal law jurisprudence, especially related to criminal conspiracy, fair investigation, Sting Operation as Corrobrative evidence. The SIT invesigation came up for sharp reprimand especially in the matter of not investigating the phone call records of powerful accused and policemen.

Most of the accused have been charged with Sections 143, 144, 147, 148 with 149, 295, 427, 435, 436, 440, 153, 153a, 153a(ii), 323-326,302, 307 (attempt to murder) read with 149 read with 120(b) and BP Act 135(1). Accused No 22 Suresh Langda Chara has also been convicted under Sections 354 and 376 (sections that deal with rape and gender violence). Maya Kodnani was convicted under Sections 295, 427, 435, 436, 440, 153, 153a, 153a(ii), 323, 324, 325, 326, 302, 307, 120-B of the IPC. Babu Bajrangi has been convicted under sections 143, 144, 147, 148 with 149, 295, 427, 435, 436, 440, 153, 153a, 153a(ii), 323,324,325,326, 302, 307 read with 149 read with 120-B.

The raw courage of the victim witnesses, especially women witnesses who deposed fearlessly while still residing in Naroda Patiya is a reflection of the confidence generated after the Supreme Court monitoring and the protection from Central Paramilitary forces provided by the Supreme Court. CJP had applied to the apex court for protection of eye witnesses. CJP through its legal team advocates provided legal aid to about 70 eyewitnesses since 2009.
 
Eleven eyewitnesses had deposed in eye witnesses testimonies assigning in detail the role played by Smt Maya Kodnani, in inciting the mob to murder, fifteen witnesses deposed through eye witness testimonies against Babu Bajrangi, 48 witnesses testified to the crimes committed by Suresh @ Langda Chara including the offences of gender violence and rape. It was the genuine evidence, given under much therat and intimidation, given by eye witness testimonies that enabled convictions. Corroborative evidence was provided through the phone call records provided by police officer Rahul Sharma and Tehelka’s Operation Kalank. Without eye witness testimonies whoever convictions could not have taken place.
 
Victim witnesses supported by CJP had also filed separate applications under Section 319 praying for police officer and then first PI KK Mysorewala to be arraigned as accused along with former Commissioner of Police PC Pandey and SRP official Dhantaniya. While the Judge rejected these applications, she has observed in the victim application for compensation for rape and gender violence that the application would be considered in the final judgement.

Also Read
Excerpts of Women Testimonies on 376 Violations (Gender Violence) Naroda Patiya Trial

 
Names of accused who have been convicted. Naresh Agarsinh Chara (accused 1); Murlibhai Naranbhai Sindhi (accused 2); Ganpat Chanaji Deedawala (accused 4); Vikrambhai Maneklal Rathod (accused 5); Haresh @ Hariyo S/o Jivanlal @ Agarsinh Rathod (accused 10); Babubhai @ Babu Bajrangi Rajabhai Patel (accused 18), Kishan Khubchand Korani (accused 20); Prakashbhai Sureshbhai Rathod (Chara) (accused  21); Suresh @ Richard @ Langdi Kantibhai Dedawala (Chara) (accused 22); Premchand @ Tiwari Conductor (accused 25); Suresh @ Sehjad Dalubhai (Marathi, Charo) (absconding) (accused 26); Nawab @ Kalu Bhaiyo Harisinh Rathod (accused 27); Manubhai Keshavbhai Maruda (Bhangi) (accused 28); Shashikant @ Tiniyo Marathi Yuvraj Patil (accused 30); Babubhai Jethabhai Salat (accused 33); Lakshmanbhai @ Lakho Budhaji Thakor (accused 34); Dr. Mayaben Surendrabhai Kodnani  (accused 37);  Ashok Hundaldas Sindhi (accused 38); Harshad @ Mungda Govind Chara (Parmar) (accused 39); Mukesh @ Vakil Ratilal Rathod (accused 40); Manojbhai @ Manoj Sinhi Renumal Kukrani (accused 41); Hiraji @ Hero Marwadi @ Sonaji Danaji Medhwan (Marwadi) (accused 42); Bipinbhai @ Bipin autowala Umedray Panchal (accused 44); Ashokbhai Uttamchand Korani (Sindhi) (accused 45); Vijaykumar Takhubhai Parmar (accused 46); Ramesh Keshavlal Dedawala (Chara) (accused 47); Sachin Nagindas Modi (accused 52); Vilas @ Viliyo Prakashbhai Sonar (accused 53); Dinesh @ Tiniyo Govindbhai Barange (Marathi) (accused 55); Santoshkumar Kodumal Mulchandani  (accused 58); Pintu Dalpatbhai Jadeja (Chara) (accused 60); Kirpalsinh Jagbahadursinh Chabda (accused 62).

 Eight charge sheets were filed in this historic case that lasted several months. It was one of the nine cases being supervised by the Supreme Court and was investigated by the SIT.
 
What did some key witnesses say?
Aminaben Abbasbhai Belim, prosecution witness number 52, testified with clarity about the incident occurred on 28.2.2002 and more particularly the huge mob gathered in front of Noorani Masjid. She had spotted accused No.37 – Maya Kodnani and accused No.62 (Kishan Korani)– her assistant getting down from the white Maruti Car, instigating the members of the mob by telling the mob to finish the Muslim area and she was present in the Khakhi Uniform, and she heard whatever stated by accused No.37 Mayaben and thereafter the members of the mob started pelting the stones, damaging the houses, etc.  This witness also witnessed the accused No.37 firing from the pistol like weapon and thereafter left in the car. This witness also spotted a truck containing gas cylinders and kerosene carboys that were used by the mob to attack. Members of the mob consumed alcohol and snacks on the road in the presence of the police before proceeding to attack innocents.

In her examination in chief, Aminaben had stated so that the truck containing the gas cylinders had arrived and members of the mob had access to the kerosene carboy, petrol carboys, had been drunk on alcohol and eating snacks, before they attacked innocents. This eye witness was herself hiding as she watched these horrific developments. She has also witnessed firing by leaders of the mob using a gun. She tried in vain to get help from the polive (PI KK Mysorewala refused to help though approached by this witness) control room from a local phone booth and this fact has been established by investigation. She was dressed in a khakhi uniform and this fact too was coorborated by other witnessed.

This witness also witnessed the incident of the killing of the family members of a Muslim Watchman near Mahavir Hall as well as the killing of Vermaji, wrongly believed to be the Muslim person and thereafter she went to hide herself at under construction building of Yasinbhai and thereafter took shelter in the house of daughter of Mohmedhusein where she stayed there for 2 hours wherein she witnessed the incident of ransacking of her house as well as from the Masjid Chali she witnessed the incident of accused No.44 – Bipinbhai resorting to the firing from the terrace of his garage.

This witness also stated to have witnessed the S.R.P. personnel ransacking and looting cash and other valuables from the households of Muslims. Since she could not trace her son Naeem she remained in the Masjid Ni Chali for the whole night and reached the Shah Alam camp the next day around 5 p.m. in a police vehicle.
 
In the appeal filed in the Gujarat high court, the high profile defence counsel attempted to bring the omissions and contradictions in the evidence of this witness.

Another prosecution witness (no 104) Mohammad Salim Mohammad Hussain Shaikh, a resident of Husseinnagar in Naroda Patiya has also beene explicit in his tetsimony. He has specifically narrated how the mob was allowed to gather at about 9 to 9.30 AM while he was drinking tea at Milan Hotel.  He has spotted and identified many of the accused being armed with lethal weapons in the mob of 1500 persons. In panic, he informed his brother, ran to his home in the chawl and then went out on the road: there he again spotted the mob led by many accused persons wherein A/37 Maya Kodnani came in a Maruti fronti car, interacted with A/20, A/2 and A/41 from among the mob, thereafter called upon the mob to come near to her, said something to the mob and thereafter left in her car. According to this witnessed testimony, it was after this instruction and visit by Kodnani that the mob launched an assaulted on the Muslim area and two persons have lost their lives in the private firing. This witness then took shelter in the SRP Headquarters by about t 10.30 to 11.00 AM.  Hispresence at the spot in the morning where he identifies four accused from the mob was established. The defence tried to discredit the witness by accusing him of exaggerating numbers in the mob (20-25,000) as appears in his statement before the Ahmedabad Crime Branch. He clearly stated that this was not a figure given to the Crime Branch by him at all. The investigation by the Crime Branch has been criticised for its unprofessionalism. In April 2002, in a controversial decision the Ahmedabad police had transferrd the investigation to the Crime Branch (officers Tarun Barot and NK Amin). During the cross examination, the defence has admitted to the presence of Maya Kodnani at the spot but construed it as ‘concern for her voters’ that had brought her there and tried to give a further twist to say that she was in fact instructing the police to come to the aid of the Muslims being targeted!

A third witness (PW 156)Abdul Majid lost his wife and eight children in the ghatsly Naroday Patiya massacre. He too has testified with clarity on then BJP MLA, Maya Kodnani coming to the spot after the mob had gathered at Kubernagar and Krishnanagar armed with lethal weapons. Kodnani, according to this eye witness account, comes with police cars from which three large black boxes were taken out.  Kodnani is then supposed to have instigated the mob because arson attacks started. Two persons, both Muslims, Abid and Hasan Qureshi got injured in the firing by Muslims. One Khadir, autorickshaw driver was killed near public toilets of jawannagar chawl.
 
Another witness, prosecution witness number 192, RashidaBanuImtiyaz HusseinMomin was also key to the prosecution. Her family runs a small grocery shop at Husseinnagar. She testified on what what she saw when she went to the tea stall around 7.30- 8 a.m. so that her son Imran could go for breakfast. Police insisted that they shut the shop due to the VHP’s call for a Gujarat bandh. Just at the time they were proceeding to close the establishment and bring their possessions to their home, at Gali No.1, around this time this witness had gone to the corner of S.T. workshop and spotted two sets of mobs coming from Nataraj hotel side and Krishnanagar side. The members of both the mobs were pelting the stones towards them as well as Noorani Masjid and in that scuffle this witness identified accused No.37,MayabenKodnani, accused No.41,ManojVideowala, accused No.44,BipinAutowala, accused No.58, SantoshDudhwala, accused No.1, NareshChhara, accused No.22, Suresh Langada and his brother and accused Gudduchhara (since deceased), while accused No.37 was reportedly heard by the witness saying that ‘march ahead and kill them’. In this way, this witness testified to the former MLA instigating the members of the mob. She was also witness to criminal activities of the mob, how members of the mob slowly progressed towards them and first of all the witness went on the terrace of her own house wherein she spotted the members of the mob assaulting upon victims and hence she came down from her house and she took her children and reached a safer place at Pinjara’s terrace. She sustained injuries from a hockey stick as she fled to escape and her daughter  Shamimbanu also received injuries from burns. Thereafter she also witnessed, from the terrace of Ramzanibhai that the members of the mob were engaged in arson, assaulting and killing and hacking the Muslims and thus she along with others stayed there till 12.00 to 12.30 O’clock in the late night of Feebruary 28, until the police took them to the relief camp. Essentially, the defence tried to discredit her testimony through ommissions and contraductions but she stood her ground in cross examination.
 
SiddikbhaiAlabuxMansuri is PW 236 and this witness has, in his testimony, categorically stated about the presence of accused No.37, Mayaben in front of Nataraj Hotel at about 8.00 to 9.00 O’clock in the morning with his P.A. accsed No.62 – Kirpalsing and delivered provocative speech and excited the mob and soon after the leaving the place by accused No.37, the mob started pelting the stones, towards Noorani Masjid.  Further this witness has also stated that, in a second incident, MayabenKodnani in white Marutifronty car with Trax Jeep and met the other co-accused persons and distributed the weapons to them and immediately thereafter the frenzied attack re-doubled in its intensity.Though confronted in cross examination, this witness specifically sticks to his earlier version as stated in the chief in examination. The defence only brought out the contradiction with respect to the helmet worn by Accused-37 Mayaben which does not, in any way, so significant to discredit the version the witness.
 
Related Articles:
1.Witness File Application for Free Access to Papers in NarodaPatiya Appeal :Gujarat HC, December 2016
2.Maya Kodnani Appeal: 7th Judge Recuses, Why was Advocate Engaged at the Last Minute asks HC
3.Justice Delivered, The NarodaPatiya Verdict

The post This Day Five Years Ago, Justice was Done & a Former Minister Convicted of Murder and Rioting: Naroda Patiya Case appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The Vacation Bench of Justice B N Karia partly allowed Bajrangi’s bail plea by giving him seven days relief from jail against 30 days which he had sought.

Babubhai Patel alias Babu Bajrangi, Courtsey: The Indian Express

The Gujarat High Court on Thursday, October 27, three days ago,  granted seven days bail to Naroda Patiya convict Babu Bajrangi after he sought relief for treatment of his ailing wife. Just months ago, he had pleaded for lenient treatment because he reportedly stated he was going blind. This is the 14th time that Bajrangi, who is said to have lost his eyesight, has been granted interim bail, mostly on the ground of his own and his wife’s health.

The Vacation Bench of Justice B N Karia partly allowed Bajrangi’s bail plea by giving him seven days relief from jail against 30 days which he had sought. Earlier in May, Justice Karia had granted him bail for seven days on similar ground.

Interestingly, just four months ago, another bench of the Gujarat High Court, had, in June 2016, (the division bench of Justice Harsha Devani and Justice Biren Vaishnav) refused his temporary bail plea, stating, “A perusal of the jail record of the applicant reveals that he has undergone three years, seven months and two days of imprisonment. During the said period, the applicant had availed of temporary bail on as many as 13 occasions.”

While rejecting his plea, the bench had ordered, “Considering the period undergone and the number of times the applicant has availed of temporary bail, the court is not inclined to exercise discretion in favour of the applicant.” In February this year, the same bench had granted him seven days bail for treatment of his eyes.

Bajrangi, an ex-Bajrang Dal leader, was sentenced to life for his role in the Naroda Patiya massacre, along with former BJP minister Maya Kodnani and 29 others, in 2012.Last year, Bajrangi had sought mercy from the Gujarat governor through his wife. He had said that he has lost his eyesight and pleaded to be freed from the jail.

The Curious Case of Maya Kodnani's Bail
The bail applications of Maya Kodnani, once a minister in Narendra Modi’s Gujarat government, had taken curious turn in 2015. She first filed her plea for bail in February 2014. She was first refused bail by the Gujarat High Court and then, inexplicably, granted it by the same court in July 2014. Witness survivors, backed by Citizens for Justice and Peace, then filed a special leave petition challenged the judgement granting her bail. Despite this challenge by survivors backed by CJP to the granting of bail by the High Court, the Supreme Court did not reverse the High Court's decision.

 An elected representative in 2002, Kodnani was found guilty by a special court (set up by the Supreme Court) of not only being the kingpin in a conspiracy to launch a physical attack on sections of the minority populace in her constituency, but also of physical presence during the attack; eye witnsees testified to Kodnani instigating the mob at Naroda and even distributing of swords during the brutal attack on the morning of February 28, 2002. Officially, the charge-sheet said 96 persons were killed in Naroda Patiya. This was the single biggest massacre of 2002. The death count of the survivors and human rights groups is closer to 124.

Not long after, another round of drama began: attempts to speed up her appeal in the Gujarat High Court. One such bid in April 2015 year was objected to by survivors in the Supreme Court, as there were reservations about the manner in which the appeal was being rushed through. The Supreme Court listened and the hearing of the appeal was stayed for two months. Then on July 13, 2015 one of the two judges of the division bench assigned to begin hearing the case from that day recused himself, saying ‘not before me’.

Four months later, on July 15, 2015, yet again, there was a unexpected brake to efforts to push through an early hearing of the appeal.  A two-member bench of the Gujarat High Court, for the second time, recused itself from hearing appeals in the Naroda Patiya case. This time it was not a simple ‘not before me’. Justices MR Shah and KS Jhaveri stated in open court that while, under normal circumstances, reasons are not given by judges recusing themselves, this time they were constrained to state that some of the accused had approached them. This revealed how far the perpetrators of 2002 were and are ready to go to subvert justice. 

Historic Conviction
On August 29, 2012, a day that should be commemorated within India’s human rights movement, 32 persons were sentenced to life imprisonment in the Naroda Patiya case. Judge Jyotsna Yagnik, who delivered that verdict, has been threatened over the past one year (2015, 2016) and the security given to her, withdrawn. Twenty-nine accused people have filed appeals in the Gujarat High Court. This appeal is pending hearing. 

Related articles:
1. Judgement in the Naroda Patiya case 

The post For the 14th Time, Babu Bajrangi Gets a 7 Day Parole: Naroda Patiya Case appeared first on SabrangIndia.