Maya Kodnani was not in Naroda Gam on day riots broke out, Amit Shah tells court

BJP national president Amit Shah was issued summons after Maya Kodnani’s counsel informed the court that Shah was inaccessible. (Source: Express photo by Javed Raja)

Appearing as Maya Kodnani’s witness, BJP national president Amit Shah on Monday informed a sessions court in Ahmedabad that the former Gujarat minister was not present in Naroda Gam on the day riots broke out. Shah claimed that he met Kodnani at the Gujarat Assembly and Civil Hospital on February 28, 2002, a day after the Sabarmati Express was torched at the Godhra railway station.

“Maya Kodnani was not present in Naroda Gam, she was inside the state assembly at 8.30 am. From 9:30 am to 9:45 am I was at the Civil Hospital and I met Maya Kodnani there,” Amit Shah was quoted as saying.

In a deposition that lasted for nearly 40 minutes, Shah added that he and Kodnani were escorted by police to their respective cars after leaving the hospital.

Last month, the BJP president was issued summons after Maya Kodnani’s counsel informed the court that Shah was inaccessible.

Kodnani is among the 82 accused of killing 11 Muslims in Naroda Gam. She has already been sentenced to life imprisonment in the Naroda Patiya massacre case in which 97 Muslims were killed.

Shah is among the list of 14 defence witnesses summoned by the court. Twelve persons have already given their testimony while the thirteenth was not examined as a witness. Kodnani wants to prove her alibi that on the day of the Naroda Gam killings, she was not at the spot.

Security beefed up outside the sessions court in Ahmedabad. (Source: Express Photo)