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Bombay High Court denies death penalty for Bilkis Bano rape-murder convicts, upholds life sentenche

by IBNS 03 May 2017, 10:17 pm

Mumbai, May 4 (IBNS) : The Bombay high court on Thursday upheld the life imprisonment of 11 convicts in the gang-rape and murder of Bilkis Bano, committed during the post-Godhra Gujarat pogrom while rejected their death penalty as demanded by the CBI, media reports said.

The court  set aside the acquittal of seven persons, including doctors and policemen, and convicted them for tampering with evidence in the case.

Bilkis Bano's family was attacked by a mob at Randhikpur village near Ahemadabad  on March 3, 2002. 

Eight members of the family, including four children,  were killed while six others went missing.

A pregnant Bilkis was gang-raped before being murdered.

On January 21, 2008, a special trial court sentenced 11 persons to life imprisonment, which the Central Bureau of Investigation, probing the case, challenged in the High Court. 

The court had convicted Jaswant Nai, Govind Nai, Shailesh Bhatt, Radhyesham Bhagwan Das Shah, Bipin Chandra Joshi, Kesarbhai Vohania, Pradeep Mordhiya, Bakabhai Vohania, Rajubhai Soni, Mitesh Bhatt and Ramesh Chandana.