2002 Godhra Train Fire: Gujarat protested in SC’s petition to acquit convict

On Wednesday (May 7, 2025) in the Supreme Court, the Gujarat government opposed the petition of a convict in the 2002 Godhra train fire case. The convict had filed a petition to acquit, on which the Gujarat government said that the petitioner instigated the violent mob, which raised anti-India slogans. Justice J. Of. The bench of Maheshwari and Justice Arvind Kumar was hearing on the case. On behalf of the Gujarat government, the lawyer said, “A leader (former member of Godhra municipality Abdul Rahman Dhania) is at a separate level … however, it was part of the violent crowd, which was shouting slogans like Hindustan Murdabad and Pakistan Zindabad and cannot be allowed in a society like us.” The lawyer of the state government was opposing the arguments of senior advocate Sanjay Hegde appearing on behalf of Abdul Rahman Dhania. Sanjay Hegde said that his client should be acquitted as he was not part of the alleged major conspiracy in the case and only one stakeholder witness identified him. The lawyer cited the testimony of some witnesses and said that many of them were government employees who were working in either the fire department or state police and hence their presence at the scene could not be justified. He said, “He was on official duty and his presence cannot be doubted.” The state counsel said that Dhania was identified as a violent mob, who pelted stones and later firing, resulting in 58 innocent people killed and many injured. He said, ‘The victims including women and children were roasted.’ The lawyer said that the purpose of the culprits, including the current appellant, was to carry out more deaths. The prosecution lawyer was responding to Dhania’s argument that his personal role in the crime had not been established. Hegde said that the witness of the prosecution who identified his (Dhantiya) as one of the accused at the scene should not be believed. He said that Dhania was the then member of the municipal body and the motor vehicle department and had a role in the departmental action against the prosecution witness, which had identified her during the trial. On February 27, 2002 in Godhra, Gujarat, 59 people were killed in arson of arson in the S-six coach of Sabarmati Express, after which riots were provoked in the state. Also read: -Lakhimpur Kheri case accused Ashish Mishra concession, permission to spend 1 day with family every week

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