The Gujarat High Court has declined a request for temporary bail from Faruk Mohammad Bhana, a convict serving a life sentence for his involvement in the 2002 Godhra train burning incident. Bhana, a former Godhra corporator, sought bail to care for his 95-year-old father, who is suffering from severe health conditions.
In a ruling on November 7, Justice Sanjeev J. Thaker determined that Bhana’s request did not present a strong enough case for release. The court highlighted the availability of other family members capable of attending to his father’s needs and noted that Bhana had recently been granted an 8-day bail period.
The incident, where Bhana and others were accused of conspiring to set fire to the Sabarmati Express, tragically resulted in 59 deaths, sparking widespread communal violence across Gujarat. Following 14 years evading authorities, Bhana was apprehended in Mumbai by Gujarat’s Anti-Terrorist Squad in 2016.
Bhana’s legal representative argued the necessity of his presence to support his ailing father, diagnosed with both diastolic dysfunction and kidney issues. However, the court, siding with the state’s objection, found that existing familial support was sufficient, resulting in the application’s rejection.
