New Delhi, Oct 16: Terming the corrective action by Gujarat government in Best Bakery case as "cosmetic", an NGO has told the Supreme Court that the state did not want to punish the guilty as it has not challenged the acquittal of all accused in three other gruesome riot incidents in which 157 people from minority community were mercilessly killed. The three cases mentioned in an affidavit before the Supreme Court by the NGO citizens for justice and peace were Kidiad massacre or Limbadiya Chowky case, in which 87 persons were burnt alive in two tempos on march 2 last year and two riot cases related to Pandharwada village massacre in which a mob butchered over 70 people on march one. The acquittals were ordered by the trial courts in October last year, but the state has not preferred any appeal against the cases in which in one sitting BJP MlA Kalubhai Hirabhai Maliwad was the main accused, it alleged.
The affidavit was filed by secretary of the NGO Teesta Setalvad, who along with best bakery case key witness Zahira Sheikh had approached the apex court with a petition seeking CBI inquiry into the riot cases and transfer of their trial outside Gujarat.

The affidavit assumes significance as the apex court is scheduled to hear tomorrow amicus curiae and former Solicitor General Harish salve on the Gujarat riot cases. Bureau Report