Maya Kodnani's arrest likely soon

AHMEDABAD: Just hours before BJP priministerial candidate LK Advani is expected to address his first election rally in Ahmedabad, Gujarat���s child welfare minister Mayaben Kodnani has put in her resignation.

The move comes after the Gujarat High Court cancelled the anticipatory bail granted granted to her in 2002 post-Godhra riot case. She is expected to be taken into custody soon. This could be the first major arrest of a politician in the post-Godhra riots case.

Her arrest may come as a major embarrassment for the BJP which has set its eyes on the Delhi in the ensuing general elections. However, the minister���s impending arrest might work to the party���s advantage in the polarised state.

Cancelling the bail pleas of both Ms Kodanani and VHP leader Jaidip Patel, High court judge Justice D H Vaghela said that their presence at the scene of the offence is prima facie established from evidence. The court held that the crime committed by the mob was of "henious nature" and has "far reaching implications." The court has also rejected their plea seeking time for further appeal.

The court observed that the accused did not do anything to quell or control the mob, which killed 106 people at Naroda Patiya and Naroda gam (village) incidents. Kodnani is accused in both the cases while Patel is accused in Naroda gam case. Eye-witnesses reportedly submitted to the Supreme Court appointed Special Investigating Team (SIT) that the minister was seen firing at the mob from a revolver.

Now since the anticipatory bail has been cancelled, the minister���s arrest would come just around the time when BJP���s PM candidate LK Advani and Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi are expected to address a public meeting.

Earlier on February 5, an Ahmedabad sessions court had granted anticipatory bail to the duo. The duo were declared absconding by the Supreme Court-constituted Special Investigating Team, which is probing a few riots cases afresh.