The name of Naroda MLA Dr Maya Kodnani cropped up again today as the Justice (Retd) G.T. Nanavati and Justice (Retd) K.G. Shah inquiry commission heard victims from Naroda area. A witness alleged he had seen Kodnani and VHP general secretary Jaideep Patel instigate a mob in Naroda Gam on February 28 last year.Mohammed Sharif Rehmanmian Malek, a resident of Muslim Mohalla area in Naroda Gam, said at 10.30 am on February 28, he saw a large mob at the market which looked as though it was ‘‘waiting for somebody.’’ Kodnani and Patel, accompanied by local leaders Ashok Patel and Vallabh Patel, arrived at the spot and made instigating statements, following which riots started, he added. Malek’s deposition came a day after Faridabanu Abdul Kadar, a resident of Hussain Nagar locality in Naroda-Patiya, told the panel that she had seen Kodnani lead a mob in Naroda area.Meanwhile, Gujarat HC today granted bail to Additional DGP (Training) S.S. Khandvawala and two policemen who were on Tuesday convicted by a Junagadh fast track court in connection with a custodial torture case of 1976.
