Vadodara: The trial court in Vadodara has ordered the release of 18 accused as innocent in the case of the 2006 riots that occurred in response to the demolition of a dargah near Champaner Darwaja by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC).

In May 2006, VMC demolished a dargah located on a road near Champaner Darvaja, in the Mandvi area of Char Darwaja. In response, a mob of around 200 people gathered late at night on May 3, 2006, in Navapura Marathi Mohalla, Kahar Mohalla, and Muslim Latta, and began pelting stones and damaging public property. The Navapura police fired five rounds in the air to disperse the mob.

A complaint was filed on behalf of the government under various sections, including the Public Property Damages Act, at the Navapura police station. During the investigation, charges were filed against 18 accused, and the trial began in the Vadodara court. However, the court ruled that the summons for important witnesses, including the complainant, were not effectively executed, and that the accused could not be declared convicts based solely on the statements of police witnesses.

The 18 accused who were released as innocent are Yakubhussain alias Babu Mohammad Hussain Khalifa, Pintu Rajnikant Kharva, Rasul alias Laththo Ibrahimbhai Pathan, Akhtiyarkhan alias Lul Ibrahimbhai Pathan, Rajnikant alias Munno Bhailalbhai Kharva, Rajesh alias Batlo Bhailalbhai Chaudhari, Rajesh alias Dhobi Pratapbhai Lunkar, Jignesh Lomeshbhai Khutvad, Arun Prakashbhai Kharva, Sunil alias Kalu Sumanbhai Kharva, Chetanbhai Maganbhai Kharva, Sunilbhai Babubhai Kahar, Banti Pramodbhai Kharva, Ghanshyam Rajnikantbhai Kharva, Sunil alias Gediyo Narendrarav Ghadge, and Gautam Narendrarav Ghadge. (Two accused died during the trial.) DeshGujarat

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