The Supreme Court on Friday, the 9th of September, heard the plea challenging the Gujarat government’s decision to grant remission to 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gangrape case. The Apex Court issued a notice to the Gujarat Government and asked to file the entire record of the proceedings, including the remission order given to the convicts.
The SC has given Gujarat government two weeks of time to produce all relevant records in the case.
It is to be noted that on the occasion of the 75th Independence Day, the 15th of August, the Government of Gujarat led by the BJP, announced to release 11 convicts, found guilty for raping a woman named Bilkis Bano in the 2002 Gujarat Riots. Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was raped and her toddler daughter killed along with six others from the family on the 3rd of March 2002.
All the accused identified as Jaswantbhai Nai, Govindbhai Nai, Shailesh Bhatt, Radhesham Shah, Bipin Chandra Joshi, Kesarbhai Vohania, Pradeep Mordhiya, Bakabhai Vohania, Rajubhai Soni, Mitesh Bhatt, and Ramesh Chandana were convicted by Special Mumbai Court in 2008. The court announced lifetime imprisonment. Later, the Supreme Court also slapped a fine of Rs. 50 lakhs on the accused, which was to be paid to the victim.
However, in 2022, the Gujarat Government granted premature release to the convicts, gaining criticism from the non BJP parties and opposition leaders in the State.
Meanwhile, with the court hearing today, the matter now has been adjourned to the third week from now.
Stay tuned for further updates.
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