2013 Muzaffarnagar riot case: BLP MLA Vikram Saini sentenced to 2 years imprisonment

A Local Court in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday awarded two years' imprisonment to 11 people, including Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) MLA Vikram Saini in 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots case. Court sentenced the 12th convict to one-year imprisonment in the case. However, all of them have been admitted to bail.

Since the convicts were on bail, the court ordered them to be taken into custody. However, later on, they were granted bail on furnishing two sureties each of Rs 25,000. Moreover, the court acquitted 15 other accused in the case for lack of evidence.

Spl. Judge (E.C. Act) Gopal Upadhyaya found the eleven accused persons guilty of charges under Sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) read with 149, 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. The twelfth convict has been held guilty under the Arms Act. 

Saini is Member of Legislative Assembly from Khatauli in Uttar Pradesh. He and 26 others were facing trial for their alleged role in the violence at Kawal village. 

On August 29, 2013, communal clashe took place in Kawal village in Muzaffarnagar district which was triggered by the killing of two Jat youths.

The MP/MLA court held that from the facts and circumstances of the case, it appeared that Saini and other accused persons formed an unlawful gathering by pelting stones and firing while intimidating other people with a common intention to advance violence on communal lines.