PRESS RELEASE ---
With tears of happiness
choking them Women Victim Eye witnesses
(Jannatchachi, Shakilabano, Faraznabano, Ishrat Jahan, Zuleikha appa and Fatima appa offer Shukrana namaz in Ahmedabad. They wil address a press conference with team of lawyers of Citizens for Justice and Peace and its Secretary Teesta Setalvad at Prashant at 3 pm today
August 29, 2012
Press Release
Hailing the
historic verdict in the Naroda Patiya mass murder case delivered by Judge
Jyotsnanbehn Yagnik. Special Sessions Judge in Ahmedabad today by which one
senior politician and several conspirators and ring leaders have been convicted,
Victim Survivors and CJP welcomed the verdict. In all 32 persons have been
convicted including former BJP MLA and minister in the Narendra Modi cabinet,
Smt Maya Kodnani, Babu Bajrangi, Bipin Panchal, Ashok Sindhi and Kishan Korani
(sitting corporator, accused No 20) have
been convicted. Twenty-nine of the accused were
acquitted.
Most of the
accused have been charged with Sections 143, 144, 147, 148 with 149, 295, 427,
435, 436, 440, 153, 153a, 153a(ii), 323-326,302, 307 (attempt to murder) read
with 149 read with 120(b) and BP Act 135(1). Accused No 22 Suresh Langda Chara
has also been convicted under Sections 354 and 376 (sections that deal with rape
and gender violence). Quantum of sentence will be pronounced on August 31. Smt
Kodnani had been convicted under Sections 295, 427, 435, 436, 440, 153, 153a,
153a(ii), 323, 324, 325, 326, 302, 307, 120-B of the IPC. Babu Bajrangi has been
convicted under sections 143, 144, 147, 148 with 149, 295, 427, 435, 436, 440,
153, 153a, 153a(ii), 323,324,325,326, 302, 307 read with 149 read with
120-B.
The raw
courage of the victim witnesses, especially women witnesses who deposed
fearlessly while still residing in Naroda Patiya is a reflection of the
confidence generated after the Supreme Court monitoring and the protection from
Central Paramilitary forces provided by the Supreme Court. CJP had applied to
the apex court for protection of eye witnesses. CJP through its legal team
advocates Altaf Jidran and Raju Shaikh supervised by senior Adv Yusuf Shaikh
provided legal aid to about 70 eyewitnesses since 2009. CJP would like to
publicly acknowledge their contribution, also the seniors advocate MM Tirmizi
(Gujarat High Court), Mihir Desai (Mumbai) and advocates Kamini Jaiswal (Supreme
Court), Sanjay Parikh (Supreme Court), Aparna Bhat (Supreme Court) and Ramesh
Pukhrambam (Supreme Court).
Eleven
eyewitnesses have deposed in eye witnesses testimonies assigning in detail the
role played by Smt Maya Kodnani, in inciting the mob to murder, fifteen
witnesses deposed through eye witness testimonies against Babu Bajrangi, 48
witnesses testified to the crimes committed by Suresh @ Langda Chara including
the offences of gender violence and rape. (Annexed are the list of witnesses
with a brief of their testimonies). The CJP would like to state that it was the
evidence through eye witness testimonies that enabled convictions. Corroborative
evidence was provided through the phone call records provided by police officer
Rahul Sharma and Tehelka’s Operation Kalank. Without eye witness testimonies
whoever convictions could not have taken place.
Victim
witnesses supported by CJP had also filed separate applications under Section
319 praying for police officer and then first PI KK Mysorewala to be arraigned
as accused along with former Commissioner of Police PC Pandey and SRP official
Dhantaniya. While the Judge rejected these applications, she has observed in the
victim application for compensation for rape and gender violence that the
application would be considered in the final
judgement.
Names of accused who have
been convicted. Naresh Agarsinh Chara (accused 1); Murlibhai Naranbhai Sindhi
(accused 2); Ganpat Chanaji Deedawala (accused 4); Vikrambhai Maneklal Rathod
(accused 5); Haresh @ Hariyo S/o Jivanlal @ Agarsinh Rathod (accused 10);
Babubhai @ Babu Bajrangi Rajabhai Patel (accused 18), Kishan Khubchand Korani
(accused 20); Prakashbhai Sureshbhai Rathod (Chara) (accused 21); Suresh @ Richard @ Langdi Kantibhai
Dedawala (Chara) (accused 22); Premchand @ Tiwari Conductor (accused 25); Suresh
@ Sehjad Dalubhai (Marathi, Charo) (absconding) (accused 26); Nawab @ Kalu
Bhaiyo Harisinh Rathod (accused 27); Manubhai Keshavbhai Maruda (Bhangi)
(accused 28); Shashikant @ Tiniyo Marathi Yuvraj Patil (accused 30); Babubhai
Jethabhai Salat (accused 33); Lakshmanbhai @ Lakho Budhaji Thakor (accused 34);
Dr. Mayaben Surendrabhai Kodnani (accused 37); Ashok
Hundaldas Sindhi (accused 38); Harshad @ Mungda Govind Chara (Parmar) (accused
39); Mukesh @ Vakil Ratilal Rathod (accused 40); Manojbhai @ Manoj Sinhi Renumal
Kukrani (accused 41); Hiraji @ Hero Marwadi @ Sonaji Danaji Medhwan (Marwadi)
(accused 42); Bipinbhai @ Bipin autowala Umedray Panchal (accused
44); Ashokbhai Uttamchand Korani (Sindhi) (accused 45); Vijaykumar
Takhubhai Parmar (accused 46); Ramesh Keshavlal Dedawala (Chara) (accused
47); Sachin Nagindas Modi (accused 52); Vilas @ Viliyo Prakashbhai Sonar
(accused 53); Dinesh @ Tiniyo Govindbhai Barange (Marathi) (accused 55);
Santoshkumar Kodumal Mulchandani (accused 58); Pintu Dalpatbhai
Jadeja (Chara) (accused 60); Kirpalsinh Jagbahadursinh Chabda (accused
62).
Eight charge sheets were filed in this historic case that lasted
several months. It was one of the nine cases being supervised by the Supreme
Court and was investigated by the SIT.
Teesta
Setalvad,
Secretary
& Trustee
Other
Trustees: IM Kadri (President),
Nandan Maluste (Vice President), Arvind Krishnaswamy (Treasurer), Alyque Padamsee, Cyrus Guzder, Javed
Anand, Anil Dharker, Javed Akhtar, Ghulam Pesh Imam, Rahul Bose, Cedric
Prakash
______________________________
Nirant,
Juhu Tara Road, Juhu, Mumbai – 400 049. Ph: 2660 2288 email: cjp02in@yahoo.com,
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