A photo of a group of people is being spread on social media with the message that a court in Gujarat has acquitted 122 Muslim men after they spent 20 years in jail for alleged links to the banned outfit SIMI.
The message is widely shared Twitter and Facebook, says: 20 years imprisonment for the crime that was never committed. The court in Gujarat acquits 122 Muslim men who were arrested in 2001 under UAPA in Surat because they were believed to be members of the SIMI-banned outfit. The court said: “Prosecution has not provided sufficient, reliable and satisfactory evidence that they belong to SIMI”. This is how the judiciary functions in the largest democracy in the world.
India Today Anti Fake News War Room (AFWA) has found that although 122 people were recently acquitted by a court in Surat due to a lack of evidence after a lengthy legal battle that began in 2001, they have not served 20 years in prison not spent. They were out on bail after spending a few months in jail.
The archived versions of the posts are saved here and here.
The truth
On Saturday, March 6, a court in Gujarat acquitted 122 people arrested in 2001 under UAPA in Surat for allegedly being members of the SIMI-banned outfit. The court noted that the prosecution did not provide ‘cogent, reliable and satisfactory’ evidence. It has been widely reported by the national media.
As it took 20 years before the court acquitted these people, many reacted sharply to the legal system on social media. Actor Swara Bhaskar was one among them. ‘Let’s simplify it. More than a hundred Muslims spent 20 years in prison or executed for false terrorist charges .. 20 years !!!! Late. That. Sink. In, ”she tweeted.
Senior IPS Officer Arun Bothra responds to Swara’s tweet and says: ‘1. The court took 20 years to decide. That does not mean they have been in jail for 20 years. Everyone was on bail. 2. There is a difference between false charges and unproven charges. It is not the same. It does not justify pain due to delay in the judicial process. But half-truths are dangerous. ”
India Today contacted the defense lawyer in this case, Abdul Wahab Shaikh, who confirmed that all the 122 people were on bail after spending a few months in jail. As in “The Times of IndiaAfter being arrested, most of the accused spent at least nine months in jail before being granted bail.
‘The Indian Express“According to the freedman, seven people died and the case against them was reduced, and five are in jail for other offenses, while four others are bedridden.”
But none of the freedmen spent 20 years in prison.
According to reports, 127 people were arrested by Surat’s Athwalines police on December 28, 2001 under various divisions of UAPA. There were allegations that these men were members of the SIMI banned outfit and arranged a meeting to expand their activities.
The protracted legal battle came to an end on March 6 when Chief Justice AN Dave acquitted them for lack of evidence.
ClaimAfter spending 20 years in prison for a crime they never committed, 122 Muslim men were acquitted by a court in Gujarat. The men were arrested in 2001 under UAPA in Surat because they were believed to be members of the SIMI banned outfit. ClosureAlthough 122 people were recently acquitted by a court in Surat due to a lack of evidence after a lengthy legal battle that began in 2001, these people did not spend 20 years in prison. They were out on bail after spending a few months in jail.
JHOOTH BOLE KAUVA KAATE
The number of crows determines the intensity of the lie.
- 1 Crow: Half true
- 2 crows: mostly lies
- 3 crows: absolutely false
