Special court acquits all 67 accused in 2002 Naroda Gam massacre case in Gujarat

New Delhi (India), April 20, 2023: In a verdict that has stirred controversy, a special court in Gujarat has acquitted all 67 accused in the Naroda Gam massacre case of 2002 post-Godhra.

Among those acquitted were former Gujarat minister Maya Kodnani and ex-Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi. The judgment came more than 21 years after the incident, which witnessed the killing of 11 Muslim community members in Ahmedabad’s Naroda Gam during the state-wide riots that were triggered by the Sabarmati train carnage on February 27, 2002.

Reacting to the acquittal, prominent lawyer and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal expressed his concern, questioning whether “we should celebrate the rule of law or despair of its demise.”

Meanwhile, a lawyer representing the families of the victims denounced the verdict and announced that it would be challenged before the Gujarat High Court, asserting that justice had been denied. In contrast, the accused and their relatives hailed the verdict as a “victory of truth.”

The case was probed by a Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT), and the trial spanned 13 years under the oversight of half a dozen judges. The judgment was delivered by special judge S. K. Baxi, who presided over SIT cases. The detailed judgment is expected to be made available in the coming days.

The verdict has reignited the debate on the efficacy of the legal system in ensuring justice for victims of communal violence and has triggered widespread reactions from legal experts, politicians, and civil society groups.