New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to a convict serving life imprisonment in the 2002 Godhra train coach burning case, noting that he has been in jail for the last 17 years.
The man identified as Faruk was convicted of pelting stones to prevent people from coming out of the burning compartment of the Sabarmati Express on February 27, 2002.
The court granted bail on the grounds that he has been in jail for 17 years. The appeals against the conviction of several convicts in the case are pending adjudication in the apex court for four years.
The bail pleas and the main appeal of the rest of the convicts will be heard later.
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According to news agency PTI, a bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha took note of the submission of a lawyer, appearing for convict Faruk, that he be granted bail considering the period undergone till now.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Gujarat government, said it was “the most heinous offence” in which 59 people, including women and children, were burnt alive and there was a need to hear the appeals of the convicts at the earliest.
Solicitor General Mehta mentioned that usually stone pelting is an offence of minor nature. However, in the instant case, the train coach was bolted and stones were pelted to ensure that passengers cannot come out. Stones were thrown at fire tenders also, the officer stated, as per PTI.
On February 27, 2002, 59 people were killed when the S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express was burnt at Godhra, triggering riots in the state.
(With PTI Inputs)