Bilkis Bano Gangrape: 11 convicts serving life imprisonment for Gujarat riots gangrape, murder released from the Godhra sub-jail

New Delhi: Eleven men who were sentenced to life imprisonment in the Bilkis Bano gangrape case were on Monday released from Godhra jail after the Gujarat government approved their application under its remission policy.

The accused were released after spending over 15 years in jail. One was released earlier, after he approached the Supreme Court with a plea for his premature release.

All the accused were sentenced to life imprisonment by the  special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Mumbai on January 21, 2008, on the charge of gang rape and murder of seven members of Bilkis Bano’s family.

However, their conviction was later upheld by the Bombay High Court.

Who are the 11 convicts?

The 11 convicts who have been granted premature release are Bipin Chandra Joshi, Kesarbhai Vohania,  Bakabhai Vohania, Ramesh Chandana, Pradeep Mordhiya, Radhesham Shah, Shailesh Bhatt,  Mitesh Bhatt, Jaswantbhai Nai, Rajubhai Soni  and Govindbhai Nai.

What is Bilkis Bano gangrape case? 

Bilkis Bano was gangraped and her three-year-old daughter Saleha was among 14 killed by a mob on March 3, 2002, in Limkheda taluka of Dahod district.

When Bilkis was gang raped, she was pregnant at the time.