Supreme Court refuses to grant Maya Kodnani extension of Bail

New Delhi:  In a setback to former Gujarat minister Maya Kodnani, convicted for her role in Naroda Patiya massacre during the 2002 riots, the Supreme Court Monday dismissed her petition for extension of interim bail on the grounds of falling health and alleged burn injuries.

A bench of Justice H.L. Dattu and S. A. Bobde, while declining to accept her plea for the extension of interim bail, asked her to go to the Gujarat High Court.

Kodnani’s interim bail was extended by the apex court this month till Feb 24. She claimed that besides her other ailments, she has suffered burns after falling on a lighted lamp at her home during the period of her interim bail.

The court, which asked Kodnani to put on record the nature, extent and degree of burn injuries suffered by her, was not satisfied by the material produced by her.

At the previous hearing, the court, after examining the photographs of Kodnani’s burn injuries, said: “We have seen the photographs and we are not impressed by the photographs and the submissions.”

Convicted in the Naroda Patiya massacre and sentenced to 26 years in jail, Kodnani was granted three months interim bail on Nov 11, 2013, for the treatment of intestinal tuberculosis. When she approached the Gujarat High Court for its extension by another six months, it was refused Feb 6.