The Maharashtra government on Friday announced the state would provide free accommodation and security to all witnesses in the Best Bakery case.

Fourteen people were killed in a carnage that occurred near Best Bakery in Vadodara during the post-Godhra riots in 2002.

A fast track court in Vadodara acquitted the 21 accused after witnesses turned hostile. The Gujarat high court also upheld the lower court order, which was later set aside by the Supreme Court on April 12. The apex court ordered a retrial to be held in Maharashtra.

The re-trial will be conducted at a special court in Mumbai.

The state police will not ask the Gujarat police to reimburse the cost for the security, as is the norm.

Replying to the debate on the supplementary demands of the home department in the assembly, Home Minister R R Patil said he was happy that the Supreme Court had showed trust on the law and order situation in the state by transferring re-trial of the case to Maharashtra.