Ahmedabad: All 11 convicts in Bilkis Bano case surrendered before the Godhra sub-jail at about 11:30 pm on Sunday night, minutes before their deadline got over.
The apex court had refused to extend the January 22 deadline of the convicts to surrender before the jail authorities.
The convicts arrived in two private vehicles amidst additional police security stationed in front of the jail. Unlike their controversial premature release on August 15 last year when images of celebration outside the jail with garlands had created a huge uproar, the convicts returned to the jail quietly even as media persons jostled to get their proper footage last night.
The 11 convicts who surrendered are: Shailesh Bhatt, Bakabhai Vohania, Bipin Chandra Joshi, Kesarbhai Vohania, Govind Nai, Jaswant Nai, Mitesh Bhatt, Pradeep Mordhiya, Radheshyam Shah, Rajubhai Soni and Ramesh Chandana. They were sentenced to life term for gang rape of Bilkis Bano and killing 14 members of her family during the 2002 post-Godhra riots.
On January 8, the apex court had quashed their release while noting that the Gujarat government had no jurisdiction to decide the remission. The court held that the Gujarat government "usurped" the power of Maharashtra government as trial was conducted there. While holding that the release order passed by the government was "vitiated" by "fraud," the court had given a two-week deadline to surrender.
The convicts knocked the court again for extending the deadline citing failing health, impending surgery, son's marriage and harvesting winter crops as some grounds. The court refused to entertain the petition saying that they didn't have any merit.
On August 15, 2022, the convicts were released based on recommendation of Jail Advisory Committee, whose members consisted of two BJP MLAs- Suman P Chauhan and CK Raolji, district collector Sujal Mayatra, Panchmahal, principal district and sessions judge, J C Joshi, district superintendent of police, Himanshu Solanki, M N Rathva, superintendent, Godhra sub jail and district social defence officer, JH Lakhara. Based on their recommendation, the state government ordered the remission.
Published 21 January 2024, 18:50 IST