Gujarat High Court Grants Seven-Day Parole to Bilkis Bano Case Convict

The Gujarat High Court has granted seven days of parole to Radheshyam Shah, one of the convicts serving a life sentence in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape and multiple-murder case arising from the 2002 Gujarat riots.

Background and arguments

Justice Sanjeev J. Thaker partly allowed Shah's parole application and directed that he be released for seven days from the date of actual release.

How the Court approached the issue

The Court required a personal bond of ₹10,000 to the satisfaction of the jail authority and imposed the usual conditions applicable to parole. Shah must also mark his presence before the nearest police station on specified days during the parole period.

He has been directed to surrender to the jail authority immediately after the seven-day period expires.

Relief and conditions

The order is limited to temporary release on parole. It does not affect the conviction, sentence or the findings recorded in the criminal prosecution.