Modi likely to defy SIT summon on Mar 21

Ahmedabad, Mar 21: In what could be set back in post-Godhra riot case, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi may not appear before the special investigation team (SIT) probing the post-Godhra riots case, a source in the state government said on Saturday, Mar 20.

In a news agency report, SIT chief R K Raghavan said that there has been no response from the Chief Minister's Office till Saturday, Mar 20, evening.

Modi was scheduled to appear for questioning before SIT in connection with the petition filed by Zakia Jaffrey, wife of the former Congress MP Ehsan Jaffrey, who was killed along with 69 others by a mob at Gulberg society in Feb 2002.

In her petition Zakia accused Modi and 62 others, including his cabinet colleagues, senior police officers, and senior bureaucrats of aiding and abetting the riots which left at least 1,000 people dead.

The statements of many of the people named in the have been recorded by SIT, including the statements of former minister of state for home Gordhan Zadaphia, BJP leader IK Jadeja, former BJP MLA from Lunawada Kalu Malivad, sitting MLA from Mehsana Anil Patel, former IPS officer RB Sreekumar, social activist Teesta Setalvad, inspector-general of police Shivanand Jha, some other senior police officers, and political leaders.

The SIT, which was constituted by the Supreme Court on Apr 27, 2009 to probe into petition filed by Zakia, had earlier summoned the Modi to appear before them based on some vital evidence gathered by the team.

OneIndia News