A Special SIT court had in August 2012 awarded life imprisonment to then BJP MLA Maya Kodnani, Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi and 29 others. (File photo: PTI)

The Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi, who was convicted in the 2002 massacre in the Naroda Patiya area of Ahmedabad.

As many as 97 people were killed in broad daylight in the 2002 massacre. Babu Bajrangi was awarded life imprisonment for his role in the riots.

A bench, headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar, passed the order after hearing the bail plea filed by him. The bench granted him bail on medical grounds as it noted that Bajrangi had undergone a major by-pass surgery a few months ago and that he was physically unwell.

As per the prosecution, Naroda Patiya massacre took place on February 28, 2002, in Ahmedabad, during the 2002 Gujarat riots. 97 Muslims were killed by a mob organised by the Bajrang Dal which is believed to be a wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).

The Supreme Court, in January, granted regular bail to four other convicts in the Naroda Patiya massacre case -- Umeshbhai Surabhai Bharwad, Rajkumar, Padmendrasinh Jaswantsinh Rajput and Harshad alias Mungda Jila Govind Chhara Parmar.

The Gujarat High Court, in April, 2018, had upheld the conviction of 12 out of the 29 accused who were pronounced guilty on various charges by the trial court and had acquitted 17 others, including former BJP minister Maya Kodnani.

A Special SIT court had in August 2012 awarded life imprisonment to then BJP MLA Maya Kodnani, Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi and 29 others.

(With inputs from agencies)