I have seen that sections of the Indian judiciary rarely convicts. A person gets bail, falls sick, and uses some trick in the book to avoid getting convicted. Harshad Mehta the man behind the 1992 stock market scam was arrested and taken to jail innumerable times but was never convicted. Eventually he died a natural death. So also another stock market scamster Kirit Parikh, arrested, released, rearrested but not convicted. Fortunately he is still alive.
It seems that the police / Courts in most states behave the same way. They arrest, release, re-arrest but rarely convict. Which is why I was surprised when the respected Supreme Court transferred the Best Bakery Case from Gujarat to Maharashtra. Is the judiciary in Maharashtra more effective? To get a background about the case you might like to read Arvind Lavakare’s article on Rediff titled, ‘Blindfolded in the Best Bakery Case’. http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/sep/09arvind.htm
To find an answer I opened my diary and saw notings on people killed in Maharashtra during riots or bomb blasts since 1993. My observations –
| Event |
Year |
Died |
Injured |
| Mumbai Terror |
|
|
|
| 1. Blasts |
March 1993 |
257 |
713 |
| 2.Ghatkopar |
December02 |
2 |
31 |
| 3. Mcdonalds |
December02 |
0 |
25 |
| 4. Vile Parle |
January 03 |
1 |
30 |
| 5. Mulund |
March 03 |
12 |
65 |
| 6. Ghatkopar |
July 03 |
4 |
32 |
| 7. Zaveri Bazaar |
August 03 |
34 |
112 |
| 8. Gateway of India |
August 03 |
18 |
37 |
| 9. Train Blasts* |
July 06 |
209 |
700 |
| 10.Malegaon* |
Sept 06 |
37 |
56 |
| 11.Malegaon |
Sept 08 |
3 |
7 |
| 12. Taj Oberoi attack* |
26/11/08 |
173 |
300 |
| Total |
|
750 |
2108 |
Note:
1. 1-8 are from India Today issue. * Published by Hindustan Times Mumbai on 29/9/2009.
2. March 1993 blasts verdict was given by the Special Court in Mumbai. The case is now before the Supreme Court for atleast nine months as on 1/10/09.
3. As per Hindustan Times Mumbai dated 1/3/09 the respected Supreme Court stayed the trial of those responsible for the July 2006 blasts since the accused challenged MCOCA, Maharashtra’s anti-terror act. Is the Maharashtra government competent to enact such a law? No movement in this case.
4. 26/11/ attack. Been nearly a year now. The Pakistani government continues to play paper games – ask for proof. Does anyone believe that the Pakis would agree to any proof?
Riots in Maharashtra
| Event |
Year |
Note |
| 1. Pune |
2001-02 |
Muslims riot for some non-descript reason. |
| 2. Nandurbhar |
same |
1 person burnt alive. |
| 3. Malegaon |
same |
Angry with Sept 11. |
| 4. Jalgaon |
same |
1 person burnt alive. |
| 5. Sholapur |
same |
9 died. Of the two main culprits arrested under POTA or MCOCA, Congress govt released one prior to 2004 Lok Sabha elections. |
| 6. Kalyan, Badlapur, |
Same |
Amravati Bhiwandi had minor riots too. |
| 7. Bhiwandi |
Feb 03 |
Muslims riot because police prevents calves from being taken for slaughter. Cops hurt. |
| 8.Parbhani |
Nov 03 |
Bombs thrown at local mosque. Armed mobs burnt shops & torched vehicles. |
| 9. Bhiwandi# |
July 06 |
Muslims protest against opening of a police station in the town. 2 policeman killed. |
| 10. Dhule# |
Oct 08 |
10 dead over 170 injured. |
| 11. Raboli Thane |
Oct 08 |
1 killed policeman injured. |
| 12. Sangli Miraj# |
Sept 09 |
1 dead 24 injured. Muslims object to a poster of Shivaji attacking Afzal Khan as part of decorations. You can see the violence on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsX6LYdNBNw |
All information is based on newspaper reports of Times of India. # is from Hindustan Times Mumbai 29/9/09.
Friends the point I am trying to make that in most cases people have not been convicted even after years of the event having taken place. This means that either the Maharashtra police are unable to prepare a water tight case before the judiciary or the latter is unable to exercise its intellect or the accused are not guilty.
I have taken utmost care in preparing the above data. In case of any errors they are unintentional. If you find any error or omission please write back. If I have missed out an event please write to me with source.