Gulberg case: 2 accused in jail for 14 yrs seek faster trial

Two of the accused, facing trial trial in the Gulberg Society riot case, told a special court here to expedite the proceedings as per the Supreme Court's order.
Surendrasinh Chauhan and Shivcharan, who are behind the bars for 14 years, today filed an application before judge P B Desai. It is likely to be heard on April 28.
"In pursuance of the Supreme Court's order of November last year directing the special courts to conclude the trials of 2002 (post-Godhra) riots in Gujarat within three months, we demand...To expedite the trial," said the application.
"We are in jail for around 14 years and even if proved guilty the sentence would not exceed more than 14 years."

The Gulberg Society case is one of the nine cases of 2002 riots probed by the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team. The court is conducting the trial on a daily basis.
SIT has named 66 accused and nine of them are in jail.

69 persons, including the former Congress MP Eshan Jafri, were killed at Gulberg Society here during the riots on February 28, 2002.
Earlier in the day, during the hearing on an application filed by survivors seeking to make four Gujarat police officials accused in the case, Special Prosecutor R C Kodekar said it should be rejected.
"A preliminary report filed by investigating officer of SIT A K Malhotra in the Supreme court stated that they have also considered the recommendations made by amicus curie Raju Ramchandran...And could not find any material evidence with regard to...These police officer," said Kodekar.

The application sought arraignment of the then city Police Commissioner P C Pandey, Joint Commissioner of Police M K Tandon, Assistant Commissioner of Police P B Gondia and Assistant Commissioner of Police S S Chudasama.