Debangana Ray
Published on August 17, 2022 at 22:16 IST
11 convicts who had been sentenced to life imprisonment in relation to the Bilkis Bano Gang Rape Case of Gujarat were released from Godhra Jail under the government’s policy of remission.
In January, 2008, a Special CBI court in Mumbai sentenced 11 convicts to life imprisonment on charges of murder and gang rape of seven members of the family of Bilkis Bano. Later, the conviction was upheld by the Bombay High Court.
The Additional Chief Secretary, Raj Kumar, said, “The 11 convicts have served a 14-year sentence in total. According to the law, a life term means a minimum period of 14 years after which the convict can apply for remission.”
The government had formed a committee headed by the District Collector of Godhra, which made a collective decision to release all the convicts.
In 2019, the SC directed the government to pay 50 lakh rupees in compensation and provide a government job to the survivor, Bilkis Bano.