Naroda Gam victim asks to change judge, cancel of Maya Kodnani's bail

A week after special court hearing the 2002 Naroda Gam massacre case of Ahmedabad acceded to the request by Maya Kodnani, former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator, to summon BJP president Amit Shah and 13 others as her defense witnesses, one of the victims has now sought replacement of judge P B Desai.

In a letter addressed to Gujarat High Court chief justice, Mohammad Sharif Arif Miyan, who claims to be one of the displaced in the case has said that he fears that like Naroda Patiya case, the judge may try to wind up the case and not consider it as a pre-planned conspiracy.

“The case of Naroda Gam should also be classified as pre-planned conspiracy and accused be handed over strictest punishment…Either netural judicial investigation be carried out in the case or it should be heard in state where we can have neutral hearing,” Mohammad Sharif demands in his letter.

Kodnani was in August 2012 sentenced to 28 years in jail for her role in the 2002 communal clashes where she was accused of having role in killings of 11 members of minority members in an incident that took place in the Naroda Gam area on February 28, 2002, a day after burning of 57 kar sevaks in a train at Godhra.

Kodnani, who was the minister for women and child development in the Narendra Modi government in Gujarat between 2007 to 2009, is the only high-profile figure to be convicted in connection with the 2002 communal clashes. A gynaecologist by profession, Kodnani on her part has claimed that Amit Shah - who was an elected legislator at the time of the riots and 13 others can help her prove that she was in the Gujarat legislative Assembly, Sola Civil Hospital and her nursing home in Ahmedabad during the time of riots and not at the venue of killings as she has been accused of.

“It is worth noting that Maya Kodnani, who has been proven guilty and sent to 28 years in jail has been out on bail for last two years basis medical reports and we are assured that the efforts are being made to raise false witnesses during this time,” Mohammad Sharif said in the letter he claims to be on behalf of other victims too.

Sharif has sought immediate cancellation of bail to Kodnani as well as other accused in the case. “The accused are trying to mislead and delay the case. It is therefore must that their bail is cancelled with immediate effect and they are sent back to jail,” the letter stated.