Gulberg case sentencing postponed to June 9

The special court, which was expected to pronounce the quantum of punishment to the 24 convicts in the Gulberg case on Monday, postponed its decision to June 9.

The move came even as both sides continued with their arguments on the quantum of punishment.  Sixty nine people, including former Member of Parliament Ehsan Jafri, were killed in the Gulberg Society massacre a day after burning of a coach of Sabarmati Express on February 27, 2002.

In his verdict on June 2, Special Sessions Court Judge P B Desai convicted 24 and acquitted 36 of the 66 accused on June 2. Six accused had died during the trial period. 

The court had fixed June 6 for the detailed hearing on the



quantum of punishment. Of the 24 convicted, 11 were held guilty under various charges, including murder, while one was declared guilty of attempt to murder and remaining 12, including VHP leader Atul Vaidya, were pronounced guilty under charges of rioting and unlawful assembly.

The special SIT court on Monday afternoon began hearing arguments from the counsel for the victims, defence lawyers and the prosecution. Advocate for the victims S M Vora called for maximum punishment to the guilty as he believed that it was mass murder committed in cold blood. He also sought that the case be dubbed rarest of the rare and compensation be provided to the survivors and family members of the victims.