Supreme Court Grants Bail To 8 Lifers In 2002 Godhra Train-Burning Case

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to eight life convicts in the 2002 Godhra train burning case, considering their period of imprisonment  and their individual roles in the ghastly incident.

The accused have undergone imprisonment for nearly 17 years, which contributed to their receiving bail.

The apex court however refused to hear the bail applications of four accused for their roles in the train burning case which resulted in 59 deaths, followed by large-scale communal riots.

Representing the Gujarat government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted before a SC bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud about his issues with the bail application of four accused, taking into account their roles in the train burning case. The SC bench also comprises Justice P.S. Narasimha.

While opposing bail for the four accused, Mehta pointed out that an iron pipe was recovered from one of them and a weapon, a sickle mounted on a stick, was recovered from another accused. Mehta further said that another accused purchased, stored, and carried the petrol used for burning the coach while the last one attacked and looted the passengers.

Appearing on behalf of the petitioners, senior advocate Sanjay Hegde suggested the court to adjourn the bail applications hearing of the four convicts, whose bail Mehta opposed, and grant bail to the other convicts.

Hegde added that his suggestion was based on the ground that there is a festival on Saturday, urging the hearing on bail applications of the four convicts after two weeks. He said submissions were to be made on their behalf.

Another senior counsel also urged the bench to adjourn the hearing on the bail plea of the four accused.

On the other hand, Mehta stressed that the court should dismiss the bail applications of the four convicts, while adding that the court can leave it open for them to revive their applications after about a year.

At the end of hearing the submissions, the bench granted bail to eight convicts, rejecting bail for four others.

The SC had rejected bail to two convicts in the case on the last date of hearing.

The Gujarat government had moved the apex court for commutation into life imprisonment for 11 convicts handed the death penalty.

More than 59 people lost their lives when some coaches of Sabarmati Express were set afire at the Godhra Railway Station in Gujarat on February 27, 2002. The incident had triggered large-scale riots in Gujarat leading to rape, murder and looting.

In 2011, a local court convicted 31 accused and acquitted 63 people.

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