Gujarat riots: HC upholds acquittal of 6 in killing of 3 UK men

The Gujarat High Court has upheld the acquittal of six individuals accused of killing three British nationals of Indian origin during the 2002 riots. The decision followed the special SIT court’s ruling that cited insufficient evidence, relying primarily on an anonymous complaint to the British High Commission.

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat HC has upheld the acquittal of six individuals in the killing of three British nationals of Indian origin near Prantij in Sabarkantha district during the 2002 riots . A special SIT court in Himmatnagar had exonerated the accused citing lack of evidence on Feb 27, 2015. HC comprising justices A Y Kogje and S J Dave stated it found no reason to interfere with the order passed by Sabarkantha principal district and sessions court.

It noted the case was based on an anonymous complaint received by British High Commission. A SC-appointed SIT had prosecuted six individuals - Mithanbhai Patel, Chandu alias Prahlad Patel, Ramesh Patel, Manoj Patel, Rajesh Patel and Kalabhai Patel - for the murder of three British citizens visiting India in 2002. Saeed Dawood, Shakeel Dawood and Md Aswat were killed on Feb 28, 2002, a day after Godhra carnage, on NH-8 near Vadvasa.

A local driver, Yusuf Piraghar, was also allegedly burned alive by a mob during the post-Godhra violence. Another visitor from the UK, Imran Dawood, sustained injuries, but managed to escape and later filed a complaint. He was a key witness in the case.

The trial court rejected Imran's testimony and acquitted all the accused. Imran challenged the acquittal before HC, which noted in its verdict that the investigation was based on an anonymous fax message sent to British High Commission, and not on "evidence of any independent eyewitness"..