Gujarat files delay condonation plea in Naroda Patiya case

AHMEDABAD: The Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team today filed a delay condonation application before the Gujarat High Court through the state government in the Naroda Patiya massacre case, after which the court issued notices to the accused.

A division bench of Justice K S Jhaveri and Justice K J Thakkar issued notices to the 16 accused, including Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi, and kept the matter for further hearing for January 20.

Bajrangi and 15 others, who are in jail, are to be served notices through the jailor, the court said. The SIT had sought enhancement of the sentences of 16 people, including Bajrangi, in the Naroda Patiya massacre case.

The lower court had convicted former minister in the Narendra Modi government Maya Kodnani, Bajrangi and 15 others in August 2012. As many as 96 people, mostly belonging to the minority community, were killed in the Naroda-Patiya massacre during the post-Godhra riots of 2002.

The court has convicted 32 and acquitted 29 persons. Kodnani is currently out on a temporary bail of three months on medical grounds.

Last month, the SIT had filed three appeals seeking that Bajrangi and five other convicts should undergo life sentence without being considered for remission (reduction in term).

In the other two appeals, the SIT has demanded 25-year and 30-year sentences without remission for the remaining convicts. The accused were given jail terms of 21 years by the trial court. The SIT has not asked for enhancement of Maya Kodnani's sentence in its appeal.