Godhra case should be re-investigated: Prashant Bhushan
March 1st, 2011 - 7:36 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, March 1 (IANS) The February 2002 burning of a train coach in Gujarat’s Godhra town should be re-investigated as the verdict was based on wrong evidence, prominent lawyer and civil rights activist Prashant Bhushan said Tuesday after a court sentenced 11 people to death and 20 to life imprisonment. “It is a totally wrong verdict, based on wrong evidence,” Bhushan told IANS, shortly after a special court in Ahmedabad ruled on the quantum of sentence to the 31 convicted of conspiracy and setting on fire the S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express on Feb 27, 2002.
“Though the sentenced persons can go to the higher courts, what is needed is a re-investigation. The case is based on wrong premise that warrants a re-investigation,” Bhushan said.
“On any account, the sentenced persons cannot be charged with murder and conspiracy. At the worst, they should be charged for arson,” he said.
Fifty-nine radical Hindu activists returning from Ayodhya were killed in the train burning that triggered a communal frenzy, claiming an estimated 1,000 lives in the state.
The 31 people were convicted Feb 22. The court had acquitted 63 others, including alleged mastermind Maulvi Umarji.
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- 31 convicted in Godhra train burning, sentencing Friday (Third Lead) - Feb 22, 2011
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- Godhra case: Quantum of punishment to be announced today - Mar 01, 2011
- Godhra train burning judgement does not justify riots: Moily - Mar 01, 2011
- 31 convicted, 63 acquitted for Godhra train burning (Roundup) - Feb 22, 2011
- Gujarat court to pronounce verdict on Godhra accused on March 1 - Feb 25, 2011
- Godhra case: Death sentence for 11, life terms for 20 - Mar 01, 2011
- 11 get the noose for Godhra train burning, 21 sentenced to life (Lead) - Mar 01, 2011
- Godhra train carnage: Hearing put off for two months - Apr 06, 2011
- Top cop says Gujarat CM Modi involved in Godhra case - Apr 22, 2011
- Godhra train burning: death for 11, life for 20 (Second Lead) - Mar 01, 2011
- Noose for 11, life for 20 in Godhra train burning (Third Lead) - Mar 01, 2011
- Godhra case: Court to decide quantum of sentence today - Feb 25, 2011
- Godhra train carnage sentencing March 1 (Second Lead) - Feb 25, 2011
Tags: ahmedabad, arson, civil rights, conspiracy, frenzy, gujarat, hindu activists, lawyer, life imprisonment, march 1, mastermind, New Delhi, premise, quantum, sabarmati express, train coach, warrants