Six Hindus Acquitted by Supreme Court in Gujarat Riots Case After 23 Years !

New Delhi – The Supreme Court has acquitted six Hindus in a riot case that took place in Vadodara, Gujarat, following the Godhra incident. The bench, comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and Manoj Mishra, stated in its verdict that mere presence at the crime scene cannot be grounds for convicting an individual.

In the 2002 riots, a mob pelted stones at the police and vandalized vehicles, leading to police firing and the subsequent arrest of seven people.

In 2005, a special court acquitted all accused due to a lack of evidence. However, in 2016, the Gujarat High Court convicted six of them.

The Supreme Court overturned the High Court’s decision, stating that no weapons or evidence linking the accused to inciting violence were found.

The bench emphasized that depriving an innocent person of their freedom is unjust. This verdict has provided relief to petitioners Dhirubhai Bhailalbhai Chauhan and others.