HC upholds lifer for 17 in post-Godhra riots, frees 14

October 20, 2016 17:06

The Gujarat high court today acquitted 14 persons out of 31 convicted by a lower court and confirmed life sentence of 17 others, in the 2002 post-Godhra Sardarpura massacre case in which 33 people were burnt alive.

A division bench of Justices Harsha Devani and Biren Vaishnav confirmed the life imprisonment of 17 persons.

However, 14 of the 31 convicted by the lower court were acquitted by the high court due to lack of evidence and contradiction in witnesses account.

In all, 76 accused were arrested in Sardarpur case by police, out of whom two died during the pendency of trial, while one was a juvenile.

The court had framed charges against 73 accused in June 2009 and initiated trial in the case. Besides the conviction of 31, the lower court had acquitted 42 others. The SIT later challenged in high court the acquittal of 31 persons out of these 42.

However, the HC today upheld the Mehsana district court order acquitting 31 out of these 42.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

In Pictures - Simarjeet's best restricts Rajasthan Royals

Images from the IPL match between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals in Chennai on Sunday.

ED to quiz J'khand minister Alamgir Alam after Rs 37-cr cash seizure

Alamgir Alam had distanced himself from the activities of Lal while speaking to reporters after the ED raids, pointing out that he had earlier served with other ministers of the state government too.

No CBI probe into Prajawal case, we have faith in SIT: Siddaramaiah

Questioning Bharatiya Janata Party's locus standi to make such a demand, he asked the opposition party as to why it doesn't trust the police.

Another Indian arrested in Canada in Nijjar murder case

Amardeep Singh, 22, a resident of Brampton, Surrey, and Abbotsford areas of Canada, has been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

2,480 illegal immigrants in Manipur in 2023 before violence outbreak: CM

Singh said concerned with increasing deforestation and setting up of new villages by illegal immigrants, a Cabinet sub-committee was formed in February 2023 after a cabinet meeting attended by two Kuki ministers Letpao Haokip and Nemcha...