Godhra Train Case: Godhra train fire convict gets big relief from SC, gets bail after 17 years

In the 2002 Godhra train burning incident, the Supreme Court has given a big relief to the guilty. The court has granted bail to Farooq, convicted in the case. The convict is in jail for 17 years. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. While granting bail to the convict, the court said that he has already served 17 years in jail.

A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha took note of the submissions of the counsel appearing for Farooq, one of the convicts. Farooq's lawyer said that in view of the period till now, he should be granted bail.

During the hearing in the case, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared on behalf of the Gujarat government. He said it was the most heinous crime in which 59 people, including women and children, were burnt alive. Tushar Mehta said that the appeal of the convicts needs to be heard at the earliest. Significantly, the court had found Farooq and others guilty of pelting stones at the coach of the Sabarmati Express. Tushar Mehta said that stone pelting is usually a crime of minor nature, but stones were pelted on the train so that the passengers could not come out of the burning train and die by burning.

On February 27, 2002, bogie S-6 of the Sabarmati Express was set ablaze at Godhra. 59 people were burnt to death in the fire. After this incident riots broke out in Gujarat.