New Delhi. Rakesh Asthana, former special director of CBI and Gujarat cadre IPS, has termed Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's claims on the issue of fire in Sabarmati Express in Godhra as wrong. In page number 403 of her book 'Belonging- A Journey of Love', Sonia Gandhi has described the reason for the fire in Sabarmati Express train as controversial. Rakesh Asthana had investigated the burning of Sabarmati Express in Godhra in 2002. Gujarat Police's SIT was headed by Rakesh Asthana.
Rakesh Asthana said in an interview with news agency ANI that it is wrong to call the cause of the fire controversial. The former IPS said that the Sabarmati Express train was deliberately set on fire as part of a conspiracy. Asthana told the news agency that forensic evidence, testimony of eyewitnesses, confessions of several accused, burnt coach of Sabarmati Express etc. were examined. Rakesh Asthana said that the case did not depend on confession alone. Forensic evidence and independent witnesses led to the conviction of the culprits by the trial court and the Gujarat High Court. Rakesh Asthana said that forensic investigation revealed how the fire broke out in the Sabarmati Express train and what was the entire conspiracy.
#WATCH | On Sonia Gandhi's statement in her memoir on 2002 Sabarmati Train burning, Rakesh Asthana, who headed the Gujarat Police SIT probing the incident, says in an interview to ANI, “The case is basically based on the forensic evidence so far as the cause of the fire is concerned. It is corroborated by the testimony of independent witnesses… The forensic examination of the burnt coach and the surrounding areas has contributed mostly in securing the conviction.”
— ANI (@ANI) November 14, 2026
Rakesh Asthana said that investigation revealed that those who jumped out of the burning train to save their lives were chased to death by the mob. He said that crowd gathered in Godhra in the morning, stocked petrol, held a meeting at Aman Guest House and made plans. This does not appear to be an accident. Razzaq Kurkur, owner of Aman Guest House, was also one of the architects of the conspiracy to set fire to the Sabarmati Express. Rakesh Asthana said that investigation does not show that the fire in Sabarmati Express was an accident.
#WATCH | Explaining the sequence of events of the 2002 Sabarmati Train burning, Rakesh Asthana, who headed the Gujarat Police SIT probing the incident, says, “A total of 59 people died in the incident, including 27 women, 10 children and 22 men. They died inside the coach because they could not get out… The investigation stated that some people had managed to jump out of the coach. The mob chased them, killing or injuring them and Therefore, the claim that it was an accidental fire and that there was no mob violence is not supported by the investigation…”
— ANI (@ANI) November 14, 2026
According to Rakesh Asthana, when Sabarmati Express was moving from the platform of Godhra Railway Station at 8.10 am on the morning of the incident, the chain was pulled in three-four coaches simultaneously. Due to which the train stopped. When the train started again, it was stopped by pulling the chain simultaneously in four coaches. According to Rakesh Asthana, the train stopped near Falia area. Where there was already a crowd of 150 to 200. Which was right in front of the S-6 coach and 20-25 boys in the crowd had stored petrol. According to Rakesh Asthana, the vestibule was cut between two coaches of Sabarmati Express. The youth tried to enter through the sliding door of S-6 coach. The crowd was pelting stones. Due to which the passengers had already closed the doors of S-6 coach. The boys pushed open the door. Inside, Jagar poured 140 liters of petrol into the coach. Then came out. The crowd threw burning torches from outside inside the coach. Due to which the coach of Sabarmati Express caught fire within 5 minutes and 59 people including 10 children and 27 women lost their lives.