Former State Minister Mayaben Kodnani was in the Gujarat Assembly at the time of Naroda Gaam riots, BJP president Amit Shah on Monday told a special designated court , which is conducting trial in one of the 2002 Gujarat riots cases.
Mr. Shah, appearing before the court as a defence witness, said: "Mayaben was not present in Naroda Gaam as she was present in the assembly at 8:30am." His deposition before the court is under way.
Earlier, the court conducting trial in the Naroda Gaam massacre had summoned BJP President Amit Shah to depose before the court as defence witness on September 18.
The trial court judge PB Desai issued summon to Mr Shah at his residence in Ahmedabad, asking him to appear before the court on September 18. However, the court had said the summons will not be reissued if Mr Shah does not depose on the due date as per the court’s instruction.
Dr Kodnani had sought examination of 14 people, including Mr. Shah, to prove her alibi that on February 28, 2002, the day riots broke out in Naroda Gaam, a locality in North Ahmedabad, she was not at the scene of the crime as is being accused by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) which is prosecuting agency in the case.
Among those 14 persons she listed as witnesses, 12 including her husband have already testified in her favour and endorsed her contention that she was not present when the offence happened. Mr Shah is the last listed defence witness in her trial; all others have been cross-examined by the court.