SC grants bail to Godhra train burning case convicts [Read Order]

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to eight life term convicts in 2002 Godhra train burning case, after noting that they had been in jail between 16 to 18 years, while their appeal before it will take time to be considered.

A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha declined any relief to four others, who were awarded death penalty in the case.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for the Gujarat government, submitted that he has some issues with the bail application of four accused, because of their roles in the train burning case.

Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for the petitioners, suggested that the court could adjourn the hearing on the bail applications of the four convicts, whose bail was opposed by Mehta, and grant bail to other convicts.

He said the bail applications of the four convicts should be adjourned to two weeks.

Senior advocate S Nagamuthu, also for some of the convicts, also asked the court not to dismiss the bail plea of four convicts and adjourn the hearing on their bail applications.

Mehta, however, submitted that the court should dismiss the bail applications of the four convicts.

The court may leave it open for them to revive these applications after a year or so, he said.

After hearing the counsel, the bench granted bail to eight convicts namely Abdul Sattar Ibrahim Gaddi Asla, Yunus Abdul Hakk Samol, Mohammad Hanif Abdulla Moulvi Badam, Abdul Rauf Abdul Majid Isa alias Dhesli, Ibrahim Abdulrazak Abdul Sattar Samol alias Bhano, Ayub Abdul Gani Ismail Pataliya, Soheb Yusuf Ahmed Kalandar and Suleman Ahmad Hussain alias Tiger Peer Musalman.

"We direct that they be released on bail subject to such terms and conditions as may be imposed by the sessions court, the bench said.

The convicts whose plea for bail was rejected are Anwar Mohammad Mehda, Saukat Abdulla Moulvi Ismail Badam, Mehboob Yakub Mitha alias Popa and Siddik Mohammad Mora (Moraiya).

The state government had earlier opposed the plea, saying, This is the rarest of rare cases where 59 people, including women and children, were burnt alive.

On December 15, 2022, the Supreme Court had granted bail to one of the convicts in the 2002 Godhra train burning case on the ground that he was a mere stone pelter.

In February, 2002, 59 people were killed in train fire incident in a train bogie, triggering to riots in the state. The deceased passengers were returning from Ayodhya.

[Read Order]