A special trial court is likely to pronounce judgement on Tuesday in one of the most gruesome incidents of communal violence of 2002 where 97 people from the minority community were killed a decade ago.
Additional principal judge Jyotsna Yagnik presiding over the trial of Naroda Patiya case is likely to pronounce the verdict against 61 accused in the case which include former minister in the Narendra Modi government Maya Kodnani and some local BJP leaders.
The trail in the case had concluded after final arguments of the prosecution and the defence in April and a tentative date of June 30 was given for pronouncement of the verdict. However, the date of verdict was extended till August 29 by the judge on June 30.
This is one the cases which was re-investigated by the Supreme Court appointed special investigation team (SIT). The SIT was also entrusted with further investigation into seven other 2002 riot cases and the Godhra train burning case.
The Apex Court in 2008 had ordered reinvestigation in nine of the most sensitive cases of the 2002 riots in Gujarat based on bunch of petitions filed by victims and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The incident had taken place on February 28, 2002, one day after the Godhra train burning incident. On that day when a bandh call was given by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a large crowd gathered in the Naroda Patiya area and attacked the people of minority community killing 97 persons and injuring 33 others.
The key accused in the case include former minister and MLA from Naroda constituency Maya Kodnani, ex-VHP leader Babu Bajrangi, local BJP leaders Bipin Panchal, Kishan Korani, Ashok Sindhi and Raju Chaumal.
The trail began in the case in August 2009 and charges were framed against 62 accused. But one accused Vijay Shetty died during the trial. As many as 327 witnesses including, eye witnesses, victims, doctors, police personnel, government officials and forensic experts and journalists like Ashish Khetan who conducted a TV sting operation on the accused.
All the accused have been charged under Indian Penal Code (IPC) 302 (murder), 307 (attempted murder), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and various other sections.
