Thursday, May 12 2005 08:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High court yesterday (May 11, 2005) granted bail to R J Patil, the "tainted" police-sub inspector who was arrested in August 2004 for alleged "destruction of evidence" in a post-Godhra communal riots case.

Patil has been in custody since August 2004.

While granting him bail Justice A L Dave, giving various directions, also instructed him not to enter Kaalol town police jurisdiction.

The official was arrested for burning the bodies of 13 riot victims in Kaalol town in Panchmahals district, known as the Ambika society massacre case, without any authorisation or even permission of the relatives on March 1, 2002.

Patil's arrest came after the Supreme Court intervened in the handling of post-Godhra riots cases by the Gujarat police and handed over the probe of this case to a special team of the Gujarat police.

He is alleged to have "tampered with evidence" by burning the bodies of Muslim riot victims who had fled from various areas and while some were killed by rioters some were also reportedly burnt alive.