Naroda Gam massacre: All 67 accused, including BJP’s Maya Kodnani, acquitted by Ahmedabad court

During the 2002 Gujarat riots, 11 Muslims were burnt to death after Hindu mobs sets their homes on fire in Naroda Gam area of Ahmedabad.

Apr 20, 2023 - 21:30

Naroda Gam massacre: All 67 accused, including BJP’s Maya Kodnani, acquitted by Ahmedabad court

A special court in Ahmedabad on Thursday acquitted all 67 accused persons, including former Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Maya Kodnani, in the Naroda Gam massacre case in which 11 Muslims were burnt alive during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

Special judge Shubhada Baxi pronounced the verdict, which was welcomed by relatives of the accused persons shouting slogans such as “Jai Shri Ram” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai” outside the court, The Indian Express reported.

Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi and Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Jaydeep Patel were also among those acquitted.

"Jai Shri Ram" slogan were raised outside the court.

In the 2002 Naroda Gam burning of 11 Muslims alive, the Ahmedabad court acquitted all 69 accused, including Maya Kodnani and Babu Bajrangi. pic.twitter.com/bWSc19cDjv— Meer Faisal (@meerfaisal01) April 20, 2023

“The truth has truly won today,” said Kodnani, who served as the Women and Child Development minister in the government headed by Narendra Modi, who was then the chief minister of Gujarat.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was then the president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, had in September 2017 appeared in a trial court as a defence witness for Kodnani.

Shahshad Pathan, the lawyer who represented the victims, told PTI on Thursday that they will challenge the acquittal in the Gujarat High Court. “The question remains as...