Maya Kodnani's conviction not suspended: Gujarat High Court clarifies typographical error

A Gujarat High Court bench comprising of acting Chief Justice V.M. Sahai and Justice R.P. Dholaria has clarified a typographical error in its order dated July 30, 2014. The Court explained that the conviction of the former State Minister Maya Kodnani has not been suspended.

In an order called "speaking to minutes", as delivered on 15^th of December, the Court stated, "While considering the bail application and giving reason for grant of bail, we have not recorded anywhere the word "conviction". However, it appears that due to typographical mistake, the words "conviction and" have been added in fourth line at paragraph No. 19 of the order dated 30.7.2014. The words "conviction and" added in fourth line at paragraph No. 19 of the order dated 30.7.2014 are deleted. The mistake is corrected accordingly."

In its order on July 30^th, the order had said, "The applicant (Kodnani) is entitled for suspension of sentence. Accordingly, the present application stands allowed. The conviction and sentence dated 31.08.2012 recorded by the learned Special Judge in Sessions Case number 243 of 2009 (trial court case number of Naroda patiya riot) is hereby suspended pending appeal and the applicant is hereby ordered to be released on bail."

The trial court had in August 2012 awarded life imprisonment to Kodnani, Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi and 29 others for Naroda Patiya incident of 2002 riots in which 97 people were killed. The trial court had described Kodnani, a sitting BJP MLA and former minister in Narendra Modi government, as "kingpin of riots" in Naroda area and sentenced her to 26 years imprisonment. This is one of the few cases in which rioters were convicted.