Shankar Chaudhary others acquitted in 2002 riot case


Ahmedabad, 29 March 2014

The Patan district and sessions court in north Gujarat has acquitted BJP MLA Shankar Chaudhary and 50 others in year 2002 Radhanpur riot case.

Soon after the court decision, Shri Shankarbhai tweeted: The Patan court has acquitted me from a case relating with 2002 riots. The case was filed by vested interests to malign me and hamper my career.

In subsequent tweet Shri Shankarbhai said: My faith in truth and the judiciary stands reinforced. No matter how grave is the opposition, truth ultimately triumphs.

The 2002 Radhanpur town riot case was about killing of two persons. The court observed the duo were killed in police firing and not in private firing as claimed by prosecution.

Additional Sessions Judge Girish M Damodar said in its order that it was acquitting all the accused, including 25 persons from Muslim community besides MLA Shankar Chaudhary, for want of evidence.

“Considering the evidence in this case it is held that it was police and not private firing that killed the two,” the court said.

Gulam Nabi Shaikh and Gulam Jilani Shaikh were killed in firing by unknown persons on March 1, 2002 during post-Godhra communal riots.

According to prosecution, the duo were killed when a mob attacked localities dominated by minority community in Mandai chowk area of Radhanpur town, which resulted in a clash between two groups.

“The rioting mob looted shops and destroyed properties worth Rs 1.50 crore,” police said.

It was prosecution’s case that police resorted to lathicharge and firing of tear gas shells to control the situation, when gunshots were fired.

The MLA was arrested, along with eight others, in 2005. All the accused in the case were booked under various sections of IPC for murder, rioting and damaging public property.

At least three of the arrested held important posts in BJP units of Radhanpur taluka.