Times of Navi Mumbai | India News
The Supreme Court has granted bail to two men convicted in the 2002 Bilkis Bano gang rape case. The court said both men had spent more than 17 years in jail.
The two men are Bipinchand Kanaiyalal Joshi and Pradip Ramanlal Modhiya. A Supreme Court bench of Justices M M Sundresh and P B Varale passed the order on October 28.
What Happened in the Bilkis Bano Case?
The case dates back to the 2002 Gujarat riots. At that time, Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and pregnant.
During the violence, she was gang-raped by a group of men. Seven members of her family were also killed, including her three-year-old daughter.
In 2008, 11 men were found guilty and given life sentences.
Why Did the Supreme Court Grant Bail?
The court noted that the two men had spent over 17 years in jail. It also considered that one of them had a serious physical disability.
The judges said there were still important questions of fact and law to be examined in their appeals. The court has allowed them to get bail under conditions set by the trial court.
The government’s lawyer opposed their bail and said the crime was very serious.
What Happened to the 11 Convicts Earlier?
In August 2022, the Gujarat government allowed all 11 convicts to leave prison early under a remission order.
However, in January 2024, the Supreme Court cancelled that decision. It said the Gujarat government did not have the authority to grant them remission because the trial had taken place in Mumbai. The court also said important facts had been hidden when an earlier order was obtained.
After that decision, the 11 men returned to jail.
The latest order grants bail only to Joshi and Modhiya while their appeals are being considered. It does not cancel their convictions or declare them innocent.
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