Bilkis Bano gangrape convicts seek extension for surrender; move Supreme Court

On January 8, the Supreme Court annulled the Gujarat government’s order granting early release to the 11 men convicted of gangraping Bilkis Bano and murdering seven of her family members in the 2002 riots in the state.

Seven out of the 11 convicts filed a petition seeking an extension with the Supreme Court on Thursday, just three days before their scheduled surrender, reported India Today.

Govindhbhai Nai, one of the convicts, said his 88-year-old father and 75-year-old mother were dependent on him and sought additional time to fulfill his domestic responsibilities before surrendering.

Another convict Ramesh Rupabhai Chandana said in his petition that he required time to make arrangements for his son's wedding. Mitesh Chimanlal Bhat, in his plea, stated that his winter produce was ready for harvest and wished to complete this task before surrendering.

The fourth convict, Pradip Ramanlal Modhiya, cited recent lung surgery and he needed time to recover before complying with the surrender schedule.

Bipinchand Kaniyalal Joshi said his recent leg surgery had left him partially handicapped and sought more time to surrender.

Jaswant Chaturbhai Nai, another convict, approached the Supreme Court, requesting a six-week extension to surrender to complete the harvest of winter crops.

The seventh convict to seek relief from the top court was Radheyshyam Bhagwandas Shah.

The matter was mentioned before a bench of Justices BV Nagarathana and Sanjay Karol. The bench asked the Supreme Court Registry to place the plea before Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, the report said.

After surrendering, the convicts have the option to file a review petition before the Supreme Court or apply for fresh remission before the Maharashtra government, as the trial was conducted in that state.

The convicts were released on August 14, 2023, without completing their entire imprisonment sentence, following the grant of remission by the Gujarat government. Gujarat government’s decision was challenged by several petitioners, including Bilkis Bano, before the Supreme Court.

Cancelling the order, the top court said the Gujarat government was not competent to grant remission to the convicts.

"I have wept tears of relief. I have smiled for the first time in over a year and a half. I have hugged my children. It feels like a stone the size of a mountain has been lifted from my chest, and I can breathe again," Bilkis Bano said in a statement issued through her lawyer Shobha Gupta.

"This is what justice feels like. I thank the honourable Supreme Court of India for giving me, my children and women everywhere, this vindication and hope in the promise of equal justice for all," she said. 

Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was gang-raped during the Gujarat riots that broke out after the Godhra train burning incident in 2002. Her three-year-old daughter was also killed along with six of her family members.