Ten Haren Pandya murder case convicts file appeal in HC

Ahmedabad, July 30 (UNI) The Gujarat High Court today admitted the appeals of ten of the 12 convicts in the Haren Pandya murder case against the judgement of the designated POTA court last month.

POTA court Judge Sonia Gokani had handed down life imprisonment to nine convicts for murdering the former Gujarat Home Minister on March 26, 2003. The judge also sentenced two other convicts to seven years imprisonment, while one more accused was sentenced to five years imprisonment.

Mr Pandya was shot dead from close range as he was parking his car near the Law Garden in the city.

Two of the convicts accused -- Md Shafiyuddin and Md Abdul Rauf -- also filed bail applications, which will be heard by the High Court after three weeks. Both of them have been given seven years imprisonment.

A total of 19 persons were named as accused in the case out of which 15 have been arrested while four others are still absconding.

The investigation of the case was first carried out by the Ahmedabad crime branch and subsequently handed over to the CBI.

UNI