According to reports, the Gujarat High Court will pronounce the verdict regarding the burning of the S6 Sabarmati Express at Godhra railway station in 2002. The fire led to the death of 59 people and further resulted in communal riots in the State of Gujarat.
On 1st March 2011, the special SIT Court convicted a total of 31 people and acquitted 63 in the case. Among the 31 people, 11 were sentenced to death and 20 were sentenced to life imprisonment.
After the hearing, a number of appeals were filed in the High Court to challenge the convictions. The State government also questioned the acquittal of the 63 people.
One of the acquitted included the prime accused, Maulana Umarji, the then president of Godhra Municipality and Mohammad Hussain Kalota, Nanumiya Chaudhary of Gangapur, Uttar Pradesh and Mohammad Ansari.
The Gujarat government formed the Nanavati Commission to probe into the carnage of the S6 coach, the commission reported that the fire was not an accident and was deliberately set ablaze.
In July this year, the Ahmedabad Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) arrested Imran who was accused to have played the main role in the fire of the S6 coach. For a total of 14 years, Imran was absconding.
Commissioner of Police (DCB) J. K. Bhatt said, “Imran is accused of setting the coach (S-6) on fire. His name figures in the second charge sheet as one of the core accused who had direct role in the offense.”
The court will discuss Imran’s sentencing as well as appeals made against the ones acquitted in the case.
