Naroda Patiya: 32 including Maya Kodnani guilty of murder, conspiracy, sentence on 31st (photos and videos)

Ahmedabad, 29 August 2012

Ahmedabad’s Naroda Patiya case verdict is out. Designated court(riot cases) of City Civil and Sessions Court gave its verdict today amid tight security in court compound.

32 including former minister and BJP MLA Mayaben Kodnani, Babu Bajrangi, Kishan Khorani guilty under section 120b and 302, while 29 accused are acquitted. 95 people were burnt alive and 33 were injured in Naroda Patiya riots in year 2002.

The court will announce sentence tomorrow or on 31st of August.

Lawyers of the victims sought death penalty or minimum penalty of life imprisonment to all who are convicted under 120b(conspiracy), 149 and 302(murder). However lawyers of Mayaben and others suggested that this case should not be considered as rarest of the rare case.

Special Public Prosecutor Akhil Desai said he asked the court to give death penalty, or alternatively life imprisoment.

Mayaben was Gujarat’s Women-Child welfare and higher education minister. She had resigned from her post on 27 March 2009 after the Gujarat High Court rejected her anticipatory bail application in Naroda Patiya case.

Mayaben is three-time MLA from Naroda constituency in Ahmedabad. She belongs to Sindhi community which dominates the Naroda assembly area.

According to a Special Investigation Team(SIT), over a dozen Muslims told the police that Kodnani was leading rioters and was carrying weapons during 2002 riots. Kodnani has denied any role in the case. The witnesses had alleged that Mayaben fired shots from her revolver, distributed swords, led and provoked the crowd during Naroda Patiya riot.

Reacting to today’s verdict, Gujarat minister and government spokesperson Jaynarayan Vyas said that MLA is not a state government functionary. Maya Kodnani was not a minister when riot incident happened.

In a statement Gujarat BJP Vice President and spokesperson IK Jadeja said that Naroda Patiya verdict would be studies and proper procedure will take place then after. Each person has right to go to upper court after lower court verdict.

Shri Jadeja clarified that when Naroda Patiya incident happened, Dr. Mayaben Kodnani was not minister in Gujarat government. Congress should first see its face in the mirror. During Congress rule, their minister Mohammad Surti was sent to jail for terrorist and anti-national activities and even the High Court had approved the sentence.

Gujarat govt spokesperson and minister Jaynarayan Vyas briefs media on today’s court verdict

Lawyers briefing media persons on the verdict