Court order on Zakia's protest petition set for 28 Oct

Ahmedabad: A local court on Monday reserved for 28 October its order on protest petition filed by riot victim Zakia Jafri against the closure report of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) giving clean chit to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi with regards to the 2002 communal violence. Zakia had on 15 April filed a petition demanding the rejection of closure report of the Supreme Court-appointed SIT, submitted in February, as well as an order from the court to file chargesheet against Modi and others. [caption id=“attachment_1143205” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] A file photo of Zakia Jafri. AFP[/caption] Zakia is the wife of slain Congress leader Ehsan Jafri, who was killed in a mob attack on Gulbarg Society here during the riots triggered by the Godhra train carnage. Metropolitan Magistrate BJ Ganatra on Monday said he is reserving the order for 28 October. Arguments by both sides got over this month. Jafri’s counsel Mihir Desai, in his written submissions before the Magistrate On 18 September, claimed there was enough evidence to prosecute Modi for his alleged role in the 2002 riots. In reply, the SIT was to file its written submissions on 25 September. However, SIT lawyer RS Jamuar sought extension of five days citing ill-health. Replying to queries seeking Modi’s prosecution, Jamuar today submitted that the SIT was never asked to look into the conspiracy angle of the post-Godhra riots by the apex court and it would have been unconstitutional had it done so. “The apex court never asked us to investigate the allegations made by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) or to look into what Justice Nanavati Commission (set up by the State Government to probe 2002 riots), was doing,” Jamuar said. Referring to former DGP RB Sreekumar, DIG Rahul Sharma and suspended IPS officer Sanjeev Bhatt, he said the apex court never asked the agency to investigate the allegations made by police officials against Modi and others. “The SIT was mandated to investigate nine cases, including the Godhra train burning incident. In six cases, investigation was over and judgements have been delivered. The appeals of convicts and some of the acquitted are pending before the Gujarat High Court,” he said. He further said the probe agency is every three months filing status report before the Supreme Court regarding progress in remaining cases. PTI