SC Grants Bail To Naroda Patiya Massacre Convict Babu Bajrangi On Medical Grounds [Read Order]

In his bail application, Bajrangi, who was convicted for his involvement in Naroda Patiya massacre of 2002, stated that he has turned 100% blind and is suffering from profound hearing loss. He is not in a position to move on his own and requires assistance for carrying out his day-to-day activities, the court was told.

In response, the State of Gujarat submitted that the medical certificates issued to him are authentic and the ailment suffered by him, in his plea, is correct.

The bench comprising Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice Ajay Rastogi also noted that nothing is brought on record by the state to indicate that Bajrangi had violated any bail condition when he was earlier released on bail, during pendency of trial. The bench ordered:

"Taking overall view of the matter, we are inclined to direct release of the applicant, Babubhai @ Babu Bajrangi Maratha, Accused No. 18 on bail to the satisfaction of the Trial Court and on such terms and conditions as may be imposed by the Trial Court."

The High Court of Gujarat had, last year, upheld the life sentence awarded to Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi, observing that the charges of conspiracy against him had been established beyond reasonable doubt. 97 people were killed in the massacre.

In January, the Apex Court had granted bail to four other convicts in the Naroda Patiya massacre case. In their case, the court had observed that the approach of the High Court while reversing acquittal recorded by the Trial Court is doubtful which makes conviction debatable.

The case pertains to the killing of 97 people, most of them from the minority community, in the Naroda Patiya area on February 28, 2002, a day after the Sabarmati Express was torched at Godhra, an incident that triggered riots across the State in which more than 1,000 people were killed.

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