Riot case: order on Maya Kodnani’s plea to recall witness reserved

Ahmedabad

The special court conducting the trial of 2002 Naroda Gam riot case today concluded the hearing on an application filed by the former Gujarat minister Mayaben Kodnani, one of the accused, seeking to recall a witness.

Kodnani, convicted in the Naroda Patiya riot case, has sought re-examination of the then police inspector of Naroda area K K Mysorewala. Judge P B Desai is likely to pronounce the order on her plea on August 7.

According to Kodnani, she was represented by advocate Chetan Shah when Mysorewala deposed, but certain important questions were not put to the witness. Later she changed the lawyer.

The special investigation team — prosecution agency — opposed her application saying it was a tactic to prolong the trial.

Naroda Gam case is one of the nine cases probed by the Supreme Court-constituted SIT. Eleven persons of the minority community were killed in the area here on February 28, 2002, during the post-Godhra riots.

The trial court has so far examined 186 witnesses. Former investigation officer M L Mall is currently deposing.

Kodnani, sentenced to 28 years in jail in Naroda Patiya case, was given bail by the High Court last year.

PTI