SC grants bail to convict of 2002 Godhra train coach burning case

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today granted bail to Farooq, a convict in the 2002 Godhra train burning case. Farooq was convicted for pelting stones and preventing people from coming out of the burning compartment of the Sabarmati Express.

Farooq is serving life imprisonment in this case and the court granted bail on the basis of his imprisonment for 17 years.

A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha took note of the counsel appearing for one of the convicts, Farooq, that he be granted bail considering the time he has already spent in jail.

The appeals of all the convicts in the Godhra train burning case are pending in the Supreme Court for 4 years. The bail and main appeal of the rest of the convicts will be heard later. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, on behalf of the Gujarat government, said that this was the most heinous crime, in which 59 people including women and children were burnt alive and the appeal of the convicts needs to be heard at the earliest.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta further said that generally, stone pelting is an offence of minor nature. However, in the present case, the coach of the train was bolted and stones were pelted to ensure that the passengers could not come out. Apart from this, stones were also thrown at the fire tender.

Many others, including Farooq, were convicted for pelting stones at the Sabarmati Express coach. On February 27, 2002, 59 people died when the S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express caught fire in Godhra, triggering riots in the state. DeshGujarat