Gulberg: SIT gives clean chit to Modi
Special Investigation Team (SIT) has found no evidence against Chief Minister Narendra Modi and 57 others in the complaint filed against them by Zakia Jafri in the 2002 Gujarat riots, a magisterial court said on Tuesday.
The court also ordered that Zakia, widow of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri who was among those killed in the Gulberg Society carnage, be given copies of all the related documents and reports within 30 days.
Metropolitan Magistrate M S Bhatt, in his order on a batch of petitions seeking copy of the SIT report, said the investigators have filed a closure report and found no evidence against any of the accused named in Zakia's complaint. Modi was on the top of the list of persons named in the complaint.
“According to SIT, no offence has been established against any of the 58 persons listed in Zakia's complaint,” the court said.
“Therefore, as per the Supreme Court's order and principle of natural justice the complainant has to be given copy of the report and related documents,” it said, adding no notice was needed to be issued to Zakia as she had already approached the court seeking a copy of the report.
“It is hereby ordered that as per Supreme Court order Zakia will be given copies of the investigation report, statements of witnesses and all related documents within 30 days of this order.”
THE REACTIONS “In the court of the Lord above, justice can get delayed but not denied. I am sure that the truth will come out and I will get justice,” said Zakia. Calling the closure report disappointing, her son Tanvir Jafri said: “This is a beginning of a legal battle. We will study the report and challenge it.”
“It is a huge disappointment as the SIT has filed a closure report. Worst fears have come alive,” Teesta Setalvad of the NGO Citizen for Peace and Justice, working for the riots victims, said.
“Amicus curiae Raju Ramchandran had also submitted a report on the SIT findings. We have to see that whether that report has been included by the SIT in the final report submitted to the metropolitan magistrate,” Setalvad said.
'COURT TO TAKE CALL' Terming its probe as a “good job”, SIT Chief R K Raghavan said closure was recommended in post-Godhra Gulberg massacre case as the team could not find evidence against the people named in the petition including Modi.
“We have filed the report saying no evidence on the contents of a particular petition was available and recommended the closure,” Raghavan said.
When asked whether this meant that all the persons named in the petition which includes Modi are now “off the hook”, Raghavan said, “I don't say that. It is for the court to decide. I am not the master. Court has to take a view.”
THE COMPLAINT Zakia had filed a complaint against Modi, his ministerial colleagues, top police officials and BJP functionaries accusing them of wider conspiracy in the 2002 riots in which more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, had been killed.
The apex court had ordered an inquiry into the complaint filed by her and appointed the SIT headed by R K Raghavan to probe it. Sixty-nine people, including former MP Ehsan Jafri, was killed at Gulberg society.
with input from agencies
THE CASE OVER THE YEARS
June 8, 2006 Zakia Jafri submited a complaint that the police had not registered the FIRs against Modi and others in Gulberg massacre. But the cops refused to lodge the complaint.
November 3, 2007 Gujarat high court refused to entertain her plea, asked her to present the case before magistrate's court.
March, 2009 SC asked the SIT to look into Zakia's complaint
March 27, 2010 SIT summoned Modi who was grilled for several hours
May 14, 2010 SIT submitted its report to the apex court registry.
June 18, 2011 Amicus curiae Raju Ramchandran visited Ahmedabad and met witnesses to prepare his report on the SIT's report.
July 25, 2011 Ramchandran submitted his report to the SC. Ramchandran reportedly differed from the SIT's conclusion that there was no evidence to substantiate the allegations.
February 8, 2012 SIT submitted summary report before a magisterial court in Ahmedabad.
February 9, 2012 Zakia moved court seeking access to the report. SIT raised objection.
April 10, 2012 Court observed that SIT has sought closure of the case. The court also ordered the SIT to provide a copy of the report to Zakia within a month.
Metro court says SIT report has no offence against Modi, orders Zakia be given copies of all related documents and reports within 30 days
Ahmedabad Mirror Bureau amfeedback@indiatimes.com
Special Investigation Team (SIT) has found no evidence against Chief Minister Narendra Modi and 57 others in the complaint filed against them by Zakia Jafri in the 2002 Gujarat riots, a magisterial court said on Tuesday.
The court also ordered that Zakia, widow of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri who was among those killed in the Gulberg Society carnage, be given copies of all the related documents and reports within 30 days.
Metropolitan Magistrate M S Bhatt, in his order on a batch of petitions seeking copy of the SIT report, said the investigators have filed a closure report and found no evidence against any of the accused named in Zakia's complaint. Modi was on the top of the list of persons named in the complaint.
“According to SIT, no offence has been established against any of the 58 persons listed in Zakia's complaint,” the court said.
“Therefore, as per the Supreme Court's order and principle of natural justice the complainant has to be given copy of the report and related documents,” it said, adding no notice was needed to be issued to Zakia as she had already approached the court seeking a copy of the report.
“It is hereby ordered that as per Supreme Court order Zakia will be given copies of the investigation report, statements of witnesses and all related documents within 30 days of this order.”
THE REACTIONS “In the court of the Lord above, justice can get delayed but not denied. I am sure that the truth will come out and I will get justice,” said Zakia. Calling the closure report disappointing, her son Tanvir Jafri said: “This is a beginning of a legal battle. We will study the report and challenge it.”
“It is a huge disappointment as the SIT has filed a closure report. Worst fears have come alive,” Teesta Setalvad of the NGO Citizen for Peace and Justice, working for the riots victims, said.
“Amicus curiae Raju Ramchandran had also submitted a report on the SIT findings. We have to see that whether that report has been included by the SIT in the final report submitted to the metropolitan magistrate,” Setalvad said.
'COURT TO TAKE CALL' Terming its probe as a “good job”, SIT Chief R K Raghavan said closure was recommended in post-Godhra Gulberg massacre case as the team could not find evidence against the people named in the petition including Modi.
“We have filed the report saying no evidence on the contents of a particular petition was available and recommended the closure,” Raghavan said.
When asked whether this meant that all the persons named in the petition which includes Modi are now “off the hook”, Raghavan said, “I don't say that. It is for the court to decide. I am not the master. Court has to take a view.”
THE COMPLAINT Zakia had filed a complaint against Modi, his ministerial colleagues, top police officials and BJP functionaries accusing them of wider conspiracy in the 2002 riots in which more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, had been killed.
The apex court had ordered an inquiry into the complaint filed by her and appointed the SIT headed by R K Raghavan to probe it. Sixty-nine people, including former MP Ehsan Jafri, was killed at Gulberg society.
with input from agencies
THE CASE OVER THE YEARS
June 8, 2006 Zakia Jafri submited a complaint that the police had not registered the FIRs against Modi and others in Gulberg massacre. But the cops refused to lodge the complaint.
November 3, 2007 Gujarat high court refused to entertain her plea, asked her to present the case before magistrate's court.
March, 2009 SC asked the SIT to look into Zakia's complaint
March 27, 2010 SIT summoned Modi who was grilled for several hours
May 14, 2010 SIT submitted its report to the apex court registry.
June 18, 2011 Amicus curiae Raju Ramchandran visited Ahmedabad and met witnesses to prepare his report on the SIT's report.
July 25, 2011 Ramchandran submitted his report to the SC. Ramchandran reportedly differed from the SIT's conclusion that there was no evidence to substantiate the allegations.
February 8, 2012 SIT submitted summary report before a magisterial court in Ahmedabad.
February 9, 2012 Zakia moved court seeking access to the report. SIT raised objection.
April 10, 2012 Court observed that SIT has sought closure of the case. The court also ordered the SIT to provide a copy of the report to Zakia within a month.
