The Special Investigation Team (SIT) conducting inquiry against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and 62 others in connection with post-Godhra riots is working hard to beat the April 30 deadline for submitting the report to the Supreme Court, its chief R. K. Raghavan said today.
The Supreme Court had given the deadline to complete the inquiry into complaint of Zakia Jaffery where she has alleged that Modi, his cabinet colleagues, some police officials and senior bureaucrats aided and abetted post-Godhra riots of 2002.
When asked if the SIT had completed the report with regard to Zakia’s complaint, Ragahavan said, “We are working on it. I cannot say anything now. The hearing of the case is tomorrow in the Supreme Court and we are working hard to beat the deadline.”
Mr. Ragahavan, who is here on a two-day visit, declined to comment when asked whether the SIT would seek extension from the Supreme Court for completing the report.
“We are still working on the report. And it is for the Supreme Court to decide. I cannot say anything more on the issue,” Mr. Raghavan told PTI.
He also refused to comment on VHP international general secretary Parvin Togadia’s allegations that one of the SIT members had humiliated him and his lawyers.
Mr. Togadia, who was summoned for questioning on April 19 with regard to Zakia’s complaint, has alleged in an affidavit that SIT member A. K. Malhotra had insulted him and his lawyers.
The VHP leader would be submitting the affidavit to the Supreme Court.
The incident took place when advocates Shaileshkumar Pandya and Sandip Modi, representing Togadia, went to meet Malhotra at the SIT office in Gandhinagar on April 24.
The SIT had questioned Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in connection with Zakia’s complaint for over nine hours on March 27.
Zakia’s husband ex-MP Ehsan Jaffrey was among the 69 killed during the post-Godhra riots in Gulburg society on February 28, 2002.
