Gujarat High Court acquits BJP Maya Kodnani in Naroda Patiya case

In the Naroda Patiya riot case of 2002 former Bajrang Dal Leader Babu Bajrangi's life sentence till death has been upheld by the Gujarat High Court and former BJP minister Maya Kodnani has been acquitted. Naroda Patiya riot took place on 28th February 2002 where 97 muslims were killed in the massacre. This is considered as one of the worst incidents which was followed by Godhara train incident of 27th February 2002. In August 2012, former BJP minister Maya Kodnani, a gynacologist was sentenced to life imprisonment by a special court for SIT cases. She has been accused for instigating riots, firing pistol and even distributing arms that were transported to Naroda in her car. A man working at his garage said he has witnessed Kodnani distributing sharp weapons. He further asserted that he was offered money to not testify against the BJP leader. In 2009, she was declared an absconder by Supreme Court when she refused to appear after being summoned by Special Investigation Team appointed for this case. Her assistant Kirpal Singh Chabda was also acquitted. Earlier he had also been convicted by a trial court. In September, BJP president Amit Shah testified that the he had seen Kodnani at the Gujarat Assembly and then at government run hospital where she was consoling families of Godhara victims.