Centre Approved Bilkis Bano Rapists' Release, Gujarat Tells Supreme Court | Read

The premature release of 11 men convicted for the gang rape of Bilkis Bano and killing of her family during the 2002 Gujarat riots, was approved by the Union home ministry, the Gujarat government told the Supreme Court today. The convicts walked free on Independence Day under an outdated remission policy of the state government, setting off a huge political controversy.  While such releases need the approval of the Union Home Ministry, the state had not clarified about the clearance, leaving it a grey area.