Kodanani resigns after HC cancels anticipatory bail

Ahmedabad, Mar 27 (PTI) Holding that "religious fanatics
are no less than terrorists", Gujarat High court Friday
cancelled the anticipatory bail granted to the western state
minister Maya Kodanani and Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Jaidip
Patel, accused in 2002 riots cases, after which she quit from
the Narendra Modi government.

"Religious fanatics don't belong to any religion and they
are no less than terrorists. It is unfortunate that so much
time has lapsed since the incident took place but that doesn't
take away the gravity of the crime," Justice D H Vaghela
observed in his order.

The judge also noted that communal harmony is a hallmark
of democracy.

The court held that presence of Kodanani and Patel at
the scene of offence is prima facie established from the
evidence produced by the Supreme Court-constituted Special
Investigating Agency (SIT), which is probing certain riot
cases afresh.

The court, which rejected their plea seeking time for
further appeal, observed that the accused did not do anything
to quell or control the mob, which killed 106 people at Naroda
Patia and Naroda village incidents.

Kodnani is accused in both the cases while Patel is
accused in Naroda village case.

The court held that the crime committed by the mob was
of "heinous nature" and has "far reaching implications."

On February 5, an Ahmedabad sessions court had granted
anticipatory bail to the duo. They had earlier been declared
absconding by the SIT.

A spokesman of the Modi government said that Kodnani, who
was Minister of State for Higher Education, has resigned after
High Court cancels her anticipatory bail.

Kodnani would surrender before the SIT, Government
spokesperson Jaynaran Vyas said.

Earlier, responding to the high court order, BJP
spokesman Balbir Punj said, "the BJP respected in letter and
spirit the verdict of the Gujarat High Court and will act
accordingly to the full satisfaction of the honourable court.

"In case she is arrested, she has no right to remain a
minister," he said.

Kodnani and Patel were declared absconding by the
agency in the last week of January this year after they failed
to turn up despite repeated summons.

Following the lower court order, SIT had approached the
High Court seeking cancellation of the anticipatory bail
granted to the accused.

During the course of argument, lawyers appearing for
Kodanani had submitted that there was a conspiracy to frame
her in the case at a time of parliamentary elections.

They had also submitted that statements given by the
witnesses were contradictory and had no credentials. PTI