Former BJP minister I K Jadeja was today questioned for over two hours by the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with the 2002 Gulburg society riot case .
“I was called for further questioning by the SIT today. I have answered their questions. I cannot reveal anything further,” Mr. Jadeja, who is currently State BJP spokesperson, said after coming out of SIT office in Gandhinagar.
This is the second time after November 9, 2009 that Mr. Jadeja, who was Gujarat urban development minister in 2002, has been questioned by the SIT.
The SIT had in March also questioned IPS officer Sanjeev Bhatt.
The recording of statements of Mr. Bhatt and Mr. Jadeja was done by SIT after the Supreme Court ordered it to consider whether further probe was required against Chief Minister Narendra Modi and 62 others in connection with the complaint filed by Zakia Jaffery, widow of former Congress MP Ehsan Jaffery, who was among the 69 killed in Gulburg society post Godhra riots.
The apex court had in March, with regard to the SIT report, stated that the “inferences and evidence do not match with findings” and asked the agency to submit its report by April 25 on whether further investigations were required in Ms. Zakia’s complaint.
Ms. Zakia had approached the apex court after the Gujarat High Court refused on November 3, 2007 to give any direction and asked her to approach the magistrate’s court.
She had alleged that between February and May 2002 there was a “deliberate and intentional failure” of the State government to protect the life and property of innocents.
In her complaint she alleged that Mr. Modi and 62 others, including his cabinet colleagues, police officials and senior bureaucrats aided and abetted the riots which left over 1,000 people dead across the State.
In connection with Ms. Zakia’s complaint, SIT has already recorded statements of Mr. Modi and a number of persons named in her complaint which include, former minister of state for Home Gordhan Zadafia, former BJP MLA from Lunawada Kalu Malivad and sitting MLA from Mehsana Anil Patel, former IPS officer R B Sreekumar, social activist Teesta Setalvad, IG Shivanand Jha, senior police officers and political leaders.
