After the Supreme Court's deadline, eleven convicts in the Bilkis Bano case turned themselves in to the Godhra jail authorities. The court revoked the convicts' early release and remission from the Gujarat government. Two different vehicles carried the prisoners from Singwad in the Dahod district to the Godhra sub-jail in Panchmahal district.
Turnover of the Prisoners
The eleven prisoners, who were identified as Shailesh Bhatt, Bipin Joshi, Pradip Modhiya, Raju Soni, Kesar Vohania, Baka Vohania, Jaswant Nai, Govind Nai, Shailesh Bhatt, and Mitesh Bhatt, turned themselves in at the Godhra sub-jail just before midnight. The district police escorted them into the jail premises.
Preparations for Surrender
A number of units of the Panchmahal district police had been stationed outside the Godhra sub-jail in case of the surrender. The majority of the prisoners rode in a 10-seater multipurpose vehicle with an SUV serving as their escort.
Supreme Court's Decision
The Supreme Court denied the convicts' requests for additional time, which led to their surrender. The inmates gave various excuses, including their ageing parents' health issues, a family wedding, and the harvest of crops. The court, however, turned down their pleas and gave them a two-week deadline to turn themselves in.
Context of the Case
The defendants were given life sentences for killing Bilkis Bano's family members and raping her during the Gujarat riots in 2002. On August 15, 2022, the Gujarati government remitted the convicts in accordance with its 1992 remission policy. The Gujarat government was found to have no jurisdiction over the issue, and as a result, the Supreme Court overturned the decision.
(With inputs from agencies)
(Image Source : Multiple Agencies )
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