'Absconder' Guj minister Kodnani resurfaces

Gujarat minister Maya Kodnani, who remained elusive for past five days and was declared an absconder, surfaced on Friday, a day after a Ahmedabad court granted her anticipatory bail in connection with post-Godhra riots cases.

Kodnani, the minister of state for higher education was declared absconding by the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team on Monday after which she was untraceable.

Kodnani was present at her official residence at Gandhinagar in Ahmedabad and was attending a meeting, her secretary told PTI. Since Monday, Kodnani's staff maintained that she was on tour. When contacted, Kodnani said, "I would not like to say anything."

The SIT had issued summons on January 29 and 31 to Kodnani in the Naroda Patia and Naroda Gram riot cases but she never turned up, following which she was declared an absconder.

The SIT in its affidavit had said that according to some 15 witnesses Kodnani was present in the Naroda area and was instigating the rioters.

Deposing before the SIT, the witnesses had said they saw Kodnani distributing kerosene to the rioters, which she had brought in her vehicle.