By Abdul Hameed, TwoCircles.net
Mumbai: The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to minister of state Maya Kodnani and VHP leader Jaydeep Patel admitting an application filed by Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) for cancellation of the anticipatory bail granted to them by a sessions court.
Maya Kodnani is alleged to have led a mob, distributed swords among them and fired from her pistol, in Naroda Patia and Naroda Gam areas on February 28, 2002. In Naroda Patia 95 were killed and 38 injured. Jaydeep Patel is accused only in Naroda Gam killings that claimed 11 lives and left nine injured.
SIT which is reinvestigating the nine major cases of Gujarat riots filed a supplementary charge sheet against Kodnani and Patel in December 2008. Due to their absence from the hearing on January 29 and 30, SIT declared both of them absconder accused. While the arrest of both the leaders was expected they managed to secure anticipatory bail from a lower court on February 5.
However, SIT challenged anticipatory bail granted to them on February 19 but Justice A S Dave of the Gujarat High Court had refused to hear the petition saying ‘not before me’.
On February 24 Justice D H Waghela while hearing the matter asked Maya Kodnani and Jaydeep Patel to file their answers by March 2.