Godhra riots: Court rejects plea against 4

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In the application, they sought arraignment of four police officers — former DGP P C Pande, then Ahmedabad commissioner of police P B Gondia, then deputy commissioner of police, Zone-IV, S S Chudasama, then ACP (Detection of Crime Branch) and former joint commissioner of police M K Tandon (retired) — as accused. The victims accused these police officers of dereliction of duty.

The Supreme Court-appointed special investigation team (SIT) that probed the case opposed the application saying there was no material evidence against the policemen. Special public prosecutor R C Kodekar said that the application has been rejected but he is yet to read the order. Earlier, Kodekar had argued citing SIT’s report that gave clean chit to the four policemen.

“We may approach the High Court,” said lawyer S M Vohra who represents victims. Vohra argued that due to negligence of these four policemen the riot had taken place. The trial of this case — monitored by the apex court — is in the final stage and the SIT has already completed its final argument seeking conviction against all the 61 accused.