Vadodara BJP VP, 18 others held in 2002 Gujarat riot case

Vadodara, Nov 22 (UNI) Police have arrested Vadodara district BJP vice-president Utsav Parikh and 18 others in connection with a 2002 post-Godhra riot case, registered in Waghodia taluka of the district.

The arrested also include the BJP leader's brother Vinod Parikh, who is the director of the Waghodia Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee.

All were allegedly involved in a case of rioting in March 2002, in which a house of one Dawood Vohra, in Goraj village was set ablaze by a 200-strong mob.

Vohra, who then could not register his complaint because of alleged police indifference, had petitioned the Governor in April 2005.

After the Governor referred the matter to the then special Inspector General of Police (Vadodara range), an investigation was carried out by the Waghodia police, which identified 20 persons, including the Parikh brothers, for their alleged involvement in the riot.

Yesterday, 19 of the accused were arrested and produced before a local court which granted bail to all except Vinod Parikh, who was remanded to police custody till Friday.

UNI