Bilkis Bano case convicts released due to good behaviour: Gujarat govt to SC | India News

NEW DELHI: The 11 men convicted in the Bilkis Bano case were granted remission as they had served 15 years of their jail sentence and their “behaviour was found to be good”, the Gujarat government has told the Supreme Court.

In an affidavit, the Gujarat government said the decision was taken as per a policy issued by the apex court and not “under a circular governing grant of remission to prisoners as part of celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav“.
The government stated that it had considered the opinions of 7 authorities before granting remission to the convicts.
The men, who were sentenced to life imprisonment, were released from Godhra sub-jail on August 15 after the Gujarat government allowed their release under its remission policy. The convicts had completed more than 15 years in jail.

The affidavit was filed in response to a petition filed by Subhashini Ali, Revathy Laul, and Roop Rekha Rani, assailing the order to grant remission to the convicts.
Bilkis Bano was gangraped in Gujarat’s Randhikpur village, and seven members of her family, including her three-year-old daughter, were killed on March 3, 2002 during the Gujarat riots that broke out after the Godhra train burning. She was 21 years old and five months pregnant at the time.
(With inputs from agencies)