Maya Kodnani seeks BJP chief’s presence in Naroda Gam case
Maya Kodnani, a former BJP minister and a convict in the Naroda Patiya riot case, wants BJP chief Amit Shah to defend her in a separate communal riot case of 2002.
A special court will hear from Monday Kodnani’s application, requesting summoning of Shah and 13 others in her defence in connection with the Naroda Gam massacre that took place during the 2002 communal riots in Ahmedabad. “Kodnani had moved the plea to summon Shah and 13 others earlier this month. Hearing on this matter will begin from Monday,” Amit Patel, Kodnani’s lawyer, said.
A gynaecologist running her nursing home in Asarwa, Kodnani was the women and child welfare minister in the then Narendra Modi government.
The application seeks to summon 14 persons under Section 233 (3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). By summoning Shah and others, including her nursing home staff, Sola civil hospital staff and others, Kodnani will attempt to prove that at the time of riots in Naroda Gam on February 28 she was present at spots like Gujarat assembly, civil hospital, her home and other places, but not Naroda Gam. The riots broke out a day after Sabarmati Express’s S6 coach with Karsevaks was set ablaze in Godhra.
According to the application, by summoning Shah she wants to prove that she first met the then Sarkhej MLA in the assembly and then again at Sola Civil Hospital, where bodies of Karsevaks were brought, when the riots broke out. She has been accused of inciting violence and leading the mob that killed 11 people at Naroda Gam and was awarded life imprisonment in the Naroda Patiya case. On health grounds, the HC has granted her bail since 2014.