Godhra train burning case: Gujarat High Court to issue verdict on Monday

The infamous incident of burning of the Sabarmati express at Godhra railway station on the morning of February 27, 2002 changed the socio-political scenario of India. The onus of this incident was put on a group of finge Muslim men. The Gujarat high court will on Monday issue the verdict related to the case.

This unfortunate event of torching coach no S-6 led to one of the worst religious clash in the history of India which is known by the 2002 Gujarat riots that killed 1,044 out of which 790 were Muslims and 254 were Hindus. 

Several rapes and brutal killings were also reported accross the state. The then Chief Minister (CM) of Gujarat Narendra Modi was suspected to be complicit in the widespread communal violence. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed by the Supreme Court to ensure justice. 

However Narendra Modi was acquitted from all charges as the SIT and the Supreme Court (SC) did not find any actionable evidence to pronounce his guilt.   

Earlier on October 5, the Gujarat High Court  rejected Zakia Jafri's plea challenging a lower court order upholding SIT's clean chit to then chief minister Narendra Modi and others on the allegation of larger conspiracy in connection with the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

Justice Sonia Gokani rejected the larger conspiracy charge, saying that it was not accepted by the Supreme court.
"It (larger conspiracy) was already discussed by the Supreme Court in Sanjiv Bhatt's matter and dismissed by it. I do not want to go into that, therefore I reject this plea for larger conspiracy," Justice Gokani said.