2002 Godhra Train Coach-Burning Case: Supreme Court Grants Bail To 8 Convicts

The Supreme Court granted bail to eight accused persons in the 2002 Godhra train coach-burning case. Previously, the top court granted bail to one of the accused in December last year.

File Photo of Supreme Court. The SC bench had granted bail to accused Faruk last year, while noting that he has been in custody since 2004.

Source : PTI

The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to eight convicts in the 2002 Godhra train coach-burning case. The top court refused to consider the bail application of other four other convicts in view of their role. On December 15 last year, the top court granted bail to one of the accused in the 2002 Godhra train burning, which was followed by communal riots in Gujarat.

According to news agency ANI, a bench headed by Chief Justice of DY Chandrachud granted bail to the eight convicts. These eight people were those who were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment and their sentences were upheld by the trial court order.

The top court previously denied the bail application of those whose death sentence awarded by the trial Court was commuted to life imprisonment by the Gujarat High Court.

The Supreme court noted that the sentence of death which was awarded by the trial Court has been commuted to life imprisonment by the High Court and the State Government has preferred appeals against the order of the High Court.

Notably, Gujarat Government on Monday reiterated that the convicts of the 2002 Godhra train coach-burning case were involved in serious offences as they pelted stones and bolted the door of the train and opposed their bail plea. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted before the bench that it is just not a case of stone pelting alone, the accused had bolted the door of the train from outside and then pelted stones.

The convicts' lawyers submitted that they have served 17 years in prison.

Supreme Court Bail To Convict Faruk

On December 15 last year, the Supreme Court granted bail to one of the accused in the 2002 Godhra train burning, which was followed by communal riots in Gujarat.

According to news agency IANS, the apex court had noted that the convict had been in prison for 17 years and his role was throwing stones at the train. The bench stated the application of bail made by accused Faruk is granted, while noting that he has been in custody since 2004, and also his appeal against conviction is pending before the top court.

The Supreme Court had further added that the applicant is granted bail subject to terms and conditions imposed by the sessions court.

In March 2011, the trial court convicted 31 persons, out of them 11 were sentenced to death and 20 were sentenced to life. 63 accused were acquitted.

In October 2017, the Gujarat High Court upheld the conviction of all but commuted the death sentence of the 11 to life imprisonment.