Bilkis Bano’s Petition Challenging Her Rapists’ Release Valid: Supreme Court

Bilkis Bano’s petition challenging the early release of 11 convicts who raped her and killed her family during the 2002 Gujarat riots is valid, the Supreme Court said today, asserting that the hearings will continue.

The convicts were released by the Gujarat government on Independence Day in 2022 on the basis of an obsolete law, which triggered a wave of condemnation and outrage from the opposition, activists and the civil society.

The convicts were given a hero’s welcome and were seen sharing stage with a BJP MP and MLA. One of the convicts, Radheshaym Shah, had even started practicing law, which was brought to the attention of the Supreme Court.