Court proves tribal Christian innocent after four years

For Christians falsely accused and arrested on framed charges, there is still hope. A tribal Christian leader who was imprisoned on rape charges, after four years, have been proved innocent.

Steven Chhotabhai Rajvadi, a resident of Umarva in Narmada district was charged of raping a tribal girl and was convicted in 2004.

On October 20, this year, Rajvadi was declared innocent by the division bench of Justice JC Upadhyay and Justice AL Dave.

The All India Christian Council meanwhile says police biased against tribal Christians and hence will seek a departmental inquiry.

"After the verdict of the high court, the Christian council has demanded a departmental inquiry against the police officer who had filed the original FIR against Rajvadi without proper investigation. The council has sought action against communal forces who are against the tribal Christian community," says Samson Christian, General Secretary of All India Christian Council, Ahmedabad.

Briefing the case, Samson said, "On March 20, 2004, Rajpipala Sessions Court, Gujarat, had wrongly convicted him. The Rajpipala Sessions Court announced 10 years jail sentence to Rajvadi, a fine of Rs 15,000 and an additional two years jail and a fine of Rs 25,000."

"Senior Counsel Neerupam Nanavati argued the appeal of the teacher in the Gujarat High Court against the police. In his appeal, the counsel argued that the police had acted with a bias against tribals of Gujarat. Finally, Rajvadi was declared innocent on 20 October this year," he added.

Several Christian leaders in the past have been arrested on fabricated claims. In some states where anti-conversion law prevails, Hindu mobs falsely accuse Christians of "forceful conversions" which subsequently lands them in prison.