SIT seeks enhancement of sentences in Naroda-Patiya riot case

The Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) has filed appeals before the Gujarat High Court seeking enhancement of the sentences of 16 persons, including Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi, in the Naroda-Patiya massacre case.
The lower court convicted former minister in Narendra Modi government Maya Kodnani, Bajrangi and 15 others in August 2012. As many as 96 people, mostly belonging to the minority community, were killed in the Naroda-Patia massacre during the post-Godhra riots of 2002.
The court convicted 32 and acquitted 29 persons.
However, the SIT has not filed appeal for enhancement in Kodnani's case, who was sentenced to 28 years in jail.

Gujarat government had earlier given consent to the SIT to file an appeal in the High Court seeking capital punishment for Kodnani, Bajrangi and four others. However, it later backtracked, following protest from right-wing organisations.
Three appeals were filed by SIT yesterday. The first one seeks that Bajrangi and five other convicts should undergo the life sentence without being considered for remission (reduction in term).
In the other two appeals, the SIT has demanded 25-year and 30-year sentence without remission for remaining convicts. The accused were given jail term of 21 years by the trial Court.
Appeals may come up for hearing this week.