Asaduddin Owaisi, the leader of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), launched an attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday after all eleven of the defendants who had been given life sentences for the 2002 post-Godhra Bilkis Bano gang rape and murder of seven members of her family walked out of the Godhra sub-jail after the Gujarat government approved their release under its
The Hyderabad MP denounced the PM's Independence Day address on Twitter, writing, "This is BJP's version of AZADI KA AMRIT."
People who committed horrible crimes have been released from prison. Due to the BJP's hostility against one religion, even horrific rape is tolerated and hate crimes are forgivable. Will BJP-Shinde Maha govt form committee to consider Rubina Memon’s remission too?" he asked.
On January 21, 2008, a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Mumbai sentenced the eleven defendants to life in prison on the charges of gang rape and the murder of seven Bilkis Bano family members. The Bombay High Court later upheld their conviction.
One of these prisoners, who had already served more than 15 years in prison, went before the Supreme Court and pleaded for an early release.
According to Panchmahals Collector Sujal Mayatra, who served as the panel's chair, the Gujarat government constituted a committee after the state's top court instructed it to investigate the possibility of commuted his sentence.
When violence broke out after the fire of a Sabarmati Express coach on February 27, 2002, which resulted in the deaths of 59 "karsevaks," Bilkis Bano—who was five months pregnant at the time—left her village with her toddler and 15 other people.
On March 3, they sought refuge in a field after being attacked by a group of 20 to 30 individuals with sickles, swords, and sticks. Bilkis Bano was gang-raped while seven other members of her family perished in the attack. Six additional members were able to flee.
In light of the incident's anger, the Supreme court ordered a CBI probe. The accused in the case were arrested in 2004.
Ahmedabad saw the start of the trial. However, the Supreme Court shifted the case to Mumbai in August 2004 when Bilkis Bano voiced concerns that witnesses would be injured and the evidence gathered by the CBI tampered with.
On January 21, 2008, the special CBI court sentenced the eleven defendants to life in prison on the charges of gang rape and the murder of seven Bilkis Bano family members.
According to the Indian Penal Code, they were found guilty of planning to rape a pregnant woman, murder, and unlawful assembly.
Seven other defendants were exonerated by the special court for lack of evidence. During the trial, one of the defendants passed away.
The Bombay High Court overturned the acquittal of seven people in its 2018 judgement affirming the conviction of the defendants. In April 2019, the Gujarat government was ordered by the Supreme Court to provide Bilkis Bano with a residence, a job, and compensation totaling Rs 50 lakh.
Jaswantbhai Nai, Govindbhai Nai, Shailesh Bhatt, Radhesham Shah, Bipin Chandra Joshi, Kesarbhai Vohania, Pradeep Mordhiya, Bakabhai Vohania, Rajubhai Soni, Mitesh Bhatt, and Ramesh Chandana are the 11 prisoners who were given early releases.
Forgiveness of the punishment under sections 432 and 433 of the Code of Criminal Procedure was requested by one of them, Radheshyam Shah, in a petition to the Gujarat High Court.
