Appearing before a sessions court in Ahmedabad as Maya Kodnani's witness in 2002 Naroda Gam riots case on Monday, BJP president Amit Shah said that Kodnani was not present in Naroda Gam on the day the riots broke out.

"Maya Kodnani was present at the Assembly on February 28, 2002, at 8:30 a.m. along with other members to pay tribute to those who had died in the Godhra rail incident," said Shah, and further stated that he had also seen her later at the Sola Civil Hospital around 11:00 a.m.

A day before the Naroda Gam riots, Sabarmati Express was allegedly torched at the Godhra railway station.

"From 9:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., I was at the Sola Civil Hospital, and I remember seeing Jaideep Patel and other leaders. I met Maya Kodnani, while leaving the hospital around 11:00-11:30 a.m. The enraged public had surrounded us, so the police cordoned both of us out in the same jeep," Shah said. He also said that he learnt about the Godhra incident when the home minister announced it in the assembly.

Regarding the notification issued by SIT asking witnesses to come out and give their statement, Shah said, "I neither received any summons, nor was asked by SIT if I was present with Maya on the day of the incident." However, he also admitted that he was aware of SIT's public notification.