Ahmedabad: A Metropolitan Magistrate on Wednesday extended the police remand of former Gujarat Minister Maya Kodnani and VHP leader Jaydeep Patel till April 4, for their interrogation in connection with Naroda Gaam riot case, that claimed 11 lives during post-Godhra violence in 2002.
Seeking seven days' remand, the counsel for the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) said it required the custody of both the accused for more time as the weapons and other instruments used in the crime were yet to be recovered. The SIT also needed to question Kodnani and Patel further.
Metropolitan Magistrate G M Patel extended the remand till April 4.
Dr Kodnani and Dr Patel were arrested by the SIT on March 27 under sections 302, 120B and 149 of the IPC in connection with Naroda Gaam massacre of February 28, 2002 after the Godhra train carnage.
Relatives of many victims testified the presence of both and their instigation of the mob in Naroda area.
Kodnani, who resigned as the Minister of State for Women and Child Welfare in Narendra Modi Cabinet few days ago, was also wanted in the Naroda Patiya riots case occurred on outskirts of Ahmedabad in which 95 lives were lost.
Both cases were among the nine major cases of post-Godhra riots of 2002, which are being re-investigated by the SIT on Supreme Court order.
Kodnani, who represents Naroda Assembly constituency, tendered her resignation to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi after the Gujarat High Court cancelled the anticipatory bail granted by a local court to her and Patel.
Immediately after quitting the Cabinet, she along with Patel surrendered before the SIT, headed by former CBI Director R K Raghavan.
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