AHMEDABAD: Gujarat HC has upheld the acquittal of six individuals in the killing of three British nationals of Indian origin near Prantij in Sabarkantha district during the 2002 riots . A special SIT court in Himmatnagar had exonerated the accused citing lack of evidence on Feb 27, 2015.HC comprising justices A Y Kogje and S J Dave stated it found no reason to interfere with the order passed by Sabarkantha principal district and sessions court. A local driver, Yusuf Piraghar, was also allegedly burned alive by a mob during the post-Godhra violence. Another visitor from the UK, Imran Dawood, sustained injuries, but managed to escape and later filed a complaint. The trial court rejected Imran's testimony and acquitted all the accused.Imran challenged the acquittal before HC, which noted in its verdict that the investigation was based on an anonymous fax message sent to British High Commission, and not on "evidence of any independent eyewitness".

Source: The Times April 01, 2025 22:12 UTC