The Gujarat High Court today pronounced its verdict on appeals in 2002 Naroda Patiya riot case in which 97 Muslims were massacred after Godhra riots.
The High Court acquitted then BJP minister Maya Kodnani who was awarded 28 years of imprisonment, but upheld the conviction of then Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi who was sentenced to life imprisonment till death. The court has also rejected the appeal of Naroda Patiya riot victims seeking compensation.
Around 58 people lost their lives when the S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express was torched at the Godhra Railway Station on February 27, 2002.
Following the incident, on February 28 the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal declared Gujarat Bandh. A total of 97 people were killed by rioters in Ahmedabad's Naroda Patiya area on this day.
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In 2012, a special court for Special Investigation Team (SIT) cases had sentenced 32 people to life imprisonment.
Apart from this, seven accused were given enhanced life imprisonment of 21 years and the remaining were given simple life imprisonment for 14 years.
All the convicts had appealed against their conviction in the High Court.
(Inputs from ANI)
