Godhra Train Burning Case: Supreme Court Grants Bail To Eight Convicts

On Friday, the Chief Justice DY Chandrachud-led Supreme Court bench granted bail to eight convicts in the 2002 Godhra train burning case, while rejecting the bail application of the four other convicts due to their role in the crime.

The bench took into consideration the fact that the eight convicts had spent over 17 years in prison while making the decision to grant them bail, reported NDTV.

The Gujarat High Court had previously upheld the life imprisonment sentences of eight individuals who had been convicted in the 2002 Godhra train burning case. The Supreme Court granted bail to these eight individuals on Friday, taking into account their lengthy incarceration.

However, on 21 April, the Supreme Court dismissed the bail application of the convicts who had originally been sentenced to death by the trial court, but had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment by the Gujarat High Court.

On Monday, the Gujarat Government restated that the Godhra train burning convicts committed serious crimes. The Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, informed the top court that the accused had locked the train's door from the outside.

Convicts' lawyers argued they've served 17 years in prison.

The Godhra Railway Station in Gujarat witnessed a tragic incident on 27 February 2002, when some coaches of the Sabarmati Express were set on fire, leading to the death of 59 people.

This incident sparked widespread riots in Gujarat. In 2011, a local court convicted 31 individuals for their involvement in the case and acquitted 63 others.