The Hindu : Front Page : Fresh charges against 16 in Best Bakery case

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Thursday, Sep 23, 2004

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Front Page

Fresh charges against 16 in Best Bakery case

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI, SEPT. 22. Fresh charges were framed against 16 accused in the Best Bakery case in which 14 people, including two children, were killed on March 1, 2002, subsequent to the Godhra train coach burning incident.

The 16 were charged with murder, rioting with deadly weapons, unlawful assembly, dacoity, criminal trespass, arson and use of explosive substances aimed at causing damage to property, and being part of a group (unlawful assembly) which intended carrying out these crimes. The accused pleaded not guilty and the charges had to be explained to them in Gujarati as most of them did not understand Hindi.

The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr. Abhay Thipsay, separated the trial in the case as five more accused are absconding.

The Judge added a few more charges to the ones proposed by Mr. P.R. Vakil, Special Public Prosecutor, at the last hearing. These included rioting with deadly weapons and joining an unlawful assembly armed with deadly weapons, apart from house trespass with the intention of committing offences, punishable with death or life imprisonment.

With the framing of the charges, the re-trial will begin on a day-to-day basis from October 4, so that the deadline of December 31 set by the Supreme Court could be complied with. Mr. Thipsay asked the Special Public Prosecutor to present a list of witnesses.

The recording of evidence will begin from the next date. Meanwhile, the defence moved an application to the court saying that the prosecutors should visit the site of Best Bakery as it would be easier to record evidence.

Mr. Vakil replied that it was not necessary to see the place as they already have a plan of the site. The court, in any case, was not playing the role of a witness, he added.

However, the defence lawyer insisted that the plan would not give a complete picture of the events. Mr Thipsay then said he would decide the issue on September 28.

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