All 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case surrendered at the Godhra sub-jail in Gujarat’s Panchmahal district, adhering to the deadline set by the Supreme Court. The convicts handed themselves over to jail authorities late on Sunday night, just before the midnight deadline, bringing a significant chapter in the high-profile case to a close.
Inspector NL Desai from the local Crime Branch confirmed the convicts’ surrender, stating, “They reached the jail before midnight on January 21, which was the deadline set for them to surrender.”
The surrender follows a Supreme Court ruling on January 8, which annulled the remission granted to the convicts by the Gujarat government. The apex court harshly criticized the state for its role in prematurely releasing the convicts, accusing it of being “complicit” and abusing its discretion in granting the remission. The convicts had been released prematurely on August 15, 2022, during Independence Day celebrations, after serving 14 years of their life sentences.
The court ordered the convicts to return to jail within two weeks of its ruling. On Friday, the Supreme Court rejected multiple pleas by the convicts for an extension of time to surrender, citing various personal reasons, such as health issues, impending surgeries, family events, and the harvesting of crops. The court found these justifications to be without merit and reaffirmed the surrender deadline of January 21.
The 11 convicts who surrendered include Bakabhai Vohania, Bipin Chandra Joshi, Kesarbhai Vohania, Govind Nai, Jaswant Nai, Mitesh Bhatt, Pradeep Mordhiya, Radheshyam Shah, Rajubhai Soni, Ramesh Chandana, and Shailesh Bhatt. All are residents of Singvad and Randhikpur villages in the Singvad taluka of Dahod district, near Panchmahal.
The Bilkis Bano case
The Bilkis Bano case is one of the most infamous incidents of violence during the communal riots in Gujarat that erupted after the Godhra train burning incident in February 2002. Bilkis Bano, who was 21 years old and five months pregnant at the time, was gang-raped while trying to flee the violence. Seven of her family members, including her three-year-old daughter, were brutally killed during the attack. The case became emblematic of the horrific violence and injustices that occurred during the riots.
After a long legal battle, in 2008, a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Mumbai convicted the 11 men of gang rape and murder, sentencing them to life imprisonment. The trial was moved to Maharashtra following the intervention of the Supreme Court, which cited concerns over a fair trial in Gujarat.
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Controversial remission and supreme court intervention
The controversy surrounding the case reignited in August 2022 when the Gujarat government granted remission to the 11 convicts, leading to their early release. The decision to release them was based on the state’s 1992 remission policy, which cited the convicts’ “good conduct” during their time in prison.
However, the premature release of the convicts triggered widespread public outrage and protests across India. Several activists, legal experts, and citizens raised concerns about the message this remission sent to the survivors of sexual violence and the impact it would have on justice in cases of communal violence.
The Supreme Court’s ruling on January 8 quashed the remission order, holding that the Gujarat government lacked jurisdiction to grant the release, as the trial had been conducted in Maharashtra. The court’s decision to revoke the remission came after extensive legal deliberation, with the bench highlighting that the remission had been granted without due consideration of the larger implications for justice.
The aftermath
Following the annulment of their remission, the convicts had filed several applications with the Supreme Court, requesting more time to surrender. Their reasons included health issues, upcoming surgeries, a son’s marriage, and the harvesting of crops. However, the Supreme Court rejected these pleas, asserting that the grounds were insufficient to justify any further delay in their return to jail.
With their surrender at Godhra sub-jail, the convicts will now continue serving their life sentences as per the original court ruling. Their return to custody marks a significant step in the ongoing legal battle for justice in the Bilkis Bano case.
The case continues to serve as a grim reminder of the violence that engulfed Gujarat in 2002 and the long struggle for justice faced by survivors like Bilkis Bano, whose courage and perseverance have inspired many across the nation.
