SIT questions Togadia for role in 2002 Gujarat riots case

Gandhinagar, May 10 (ANI): Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Praveen Togadia appeared before a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Monday for questioning in connection with his role in the 2002 Gujarat communal riots.

Togadia was accompanied by several VHP activists, who shouted 'Jai Shree Ram' slogans and sang bhajans outside the SIT office, till his questioning was completed.

Togadia was earlier asked to appear before the SIT on April 29, but failed to do so.

He was summoned by the SIT after it had questioned Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

On April 28, the Supreme Court gave an additional 15 days to the SIT, to conduct an inquiry against Modi and 62 others in connection with post-Godhra riots, and to submit its final report.

The Supreme Court had given the deadline to complete the inquiry into complaint of Zakia Jaffery in which she alleged that Modi, his cabinet colleagues, some police officials and senior bureaucrats aided and abetted the post-Godhra riots of 2002.

Zakia's husband and ex-MP Ehsan Jaffrey was among the 69 killed during the 2002 riots in the Gulburg Society.

SIT has already recorded statements of a number of persons named in Zakia's complaint, which include former Minister of State for Home Gordhan Zadafia, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader I K Jadeja, 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, some other senior police officers and political leaders. (ANI)