Bilkis Bano Case | Days After His Surrender, Gujarat HC Grants 10-Day Parole To A Convict To Attend Nephew's Wedding

The Gujarat High Court today granted 10-day parole to one of the convicts in the infamous Bilkis Bano gangrape case, allowing him to attend his nephew's wedding scheduled to take place on March 5.

Chandana moved the HC weeks after 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gangrape case surrendered at the Godhra sub-jail on January 21 as mandated by the Supreme Court. Earlier, on February 5, another convict in the case was granted a 5-day parole following the death of his father-in-law. 

A bench of Justice Divyesh A Joshi granted parole to him on the condition of furnishing a bail bond of Rs.5,000/- to the satisfaction of the jail authority on usual terms and conditions.

Chandana has been directed to surrender before the jail authority on or before the expiry of the period of parole leave. 

Notably, In August 2022, the Gujarat government granted premature release to 11 convicts, including Chandana, citing their 'good conduct' during imprisonment. The 11 individuals who had surrendered are Radheshyam Shah, Jaswant Nai, Govind Nai, Kesar Vohania, Baka Vohania, Raju Soni, Pradipbhai Modiya, Shailesh Bhatt, Bipin Joshi, Mitesh Bhatt, and Pradip Modhiya.

However, on January 8, the Supreme Court overturned this decision, criticizing the State for being "complicit" and abusing its discretion. The apex court directed the convicts, released in 2022, to return to jail within two weeks. Subsequently, they surrendered to Godhra jail authorities on January 21.

Case Title: Chandana Rameshbhai Rupabhai Thro Chandana Rahulkumar Rameshchandra Versus State Of Gujarat & Ors

LL Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Guj) 16

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