Gulberg Society case: Two accused in jail for 14 years want trial expedited

Ahmedabad: Two of the accused, facing trial in the Gulberg Society riot case, told a special court in Ahmedabad to expedite the proceedings as per the Supreme Court’s order. Surendrasinh Chauhan and Shivcharan, who are behind bars for 14 years, on Thursday filed an application before judge PB Desai. It is likely to be heard on 28 April. [caption id=“attachment_2209934” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  A burnt apartment inside Gulberg society. AFP[/caption] “In pursuance of the Supreme Court’s order of November last year directing the special courts to conclude the trials of 2002 (post-Godhra) riots in Gujarat within three months, we demand…to expedite the trial,” said the application. “We are in jail for around 14 years and even if proved guilty the sentence would not exceed more than 14 years.” The Gulberg Society case is one of the nine cases of 2002 riots probed by the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team. The court is conducting the trial on a daily basis. SIT has named 66 accused and nine of them are in jail. 69 persons, including the former Congress MP Eshan Jafri, were killed at Gulberg Society in Ahmedabad during the riots on 28 February, 2002. Earlier in the day, during the hearing on an application filed by survivors seeking to make four Gujarat police officials accused in the case, Special Prosecutor RC Kodekar said it should be rejected. “A preliminary report filed by investigating officer of SIT AK Malhotra in the Supreme court stated that they have also considered the recommendations made by amicus curie Raju Ramchandran… and could not find any material evidence with regard to… these police officer,” said Kodekar. The application sought arraignment of the then city Police Commissioner PC Pandey, Joint Commissioner of Police MK Tandon, Assistant Commissioner of Police PB Gondia and Assistant Commissioner of Police SS Chudasama. PTI