Maya Kodnani acquitted in Naroda Patiya massacre case

The Gujarat HC on Friday acquitted former minister Maya Kodnani and upheld the conviction of Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi in connection with the 2002 Naroda Patiya massacre case. However, the court commuted Bajrangi's life until death sentence to 21 years in prison. The court acquitted Kodnani giving her a benefit of doubt. In 2012, a special SIT court had punished 32 persons including former minister Maya Kodnani and Bajrangi and acquitted 29 others. Kodnani was awarded a 28-year jail term and Bajrangi was awarded imprisonment till his last breath. Ten persons were sentenced to prison for 31 years, while the rest were handed down 24-year imprisonment by special judge Jyotsna Yagnik.