New Delhi: Eight convicts in the 2002 Godhra train burning case were on Friday granted bail by the Supreme Court.
The bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, however, turn down the bail application of four other convicts in the 2002 case.
Bail was granted to the eight convicts on the grounds that they have spent over 17 years in jail. They had been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, which was upheld by Gujarat High Court.
The Gujarat government on Monday reiterated that the convicts of Godhra train coach burning case were involved in serious offences. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted before the apex court that the accused had bolted the door of the train from outside.
The convicts’ lawyers argued in the bail plea that they have already served 17 years in prison.
As for the convicts whose bail petition was refused, the quartet was awarded death sentence by the trial court, which was later commuted to life imprisonment by Gujarat High Court.
On February 27, 2002, 58 people lost their lives when some coaches of the Sabarmati Express were burnt at Godhra railway station in Gujarat, triggering large-scale riots across the state.
A local court convicted 31 people and acquitted 63 in 2011.
Eleven of the accused were sentenced to death and 20 awarded life imprisonment by the trial court.
The high court upheld trial court’s decision to convict the 31 accused, but commuted death sentence of the 11 to life imprisonment.
The convicts moved Supreme Court, challenging the high court order. Their appeal was pending in the top court since 2018.
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