2002 Gujarat riot: Supreme Court to hear a petition filed by Zakia Jafri against the clean chit given to PM Narendra Modi

Supreme Court has agreed to hear a petition filed by Zakia Jafri, the widow of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, against the clean chit being given to PM Narendra Modi in the 2002 Gujarat riot.

The apex court has fixed the date of hearing for November 19 and it will be hearing the petition by Jakia, whose husband was killed in the 2002 riots.

The Supreme Court, had earlier, given a clean chit to Narendra Modi and other top politicians in the riots case, and the investigation was carried out by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by Rakesh Asthana.

The case pertains to the Gulberg society massacre , happened on February 28, 2002, when a mob broke inside the society and attacked the Muslim residents. The Gulberg society is situated in the Muslim neihbourhood in Chamanpura, Ahmedabad.

Almost all the houses were burnt by the mob, and 35 people, including Congress MP Ehsan Jafri were burnt alive, while 31 others were declared dead and the total death count reached to 69.

The Special Investigation Team, formed by the Supreme Court, had given a clean chit to the BJP leader and PM Narendra Modi in September 2013 and thereafter, he was declared as the Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

A report published in The Indian Express said, that Supreme Court will no longer monitor the 2002 Gujarat riots case. “After scanning through all the orders which have been passed from time to time, we feel that the purpose of this petition stands served and no further orders are required.” It added that “if at any time interference of this court is required, either party would be permitted to file IA (Interlocutory Application)”.

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