Special prosecutor of 2002 Gulbarg Society riot case resigns

, Feb 21: Manisha Luvkumar, the special prosecutor of the 2002 Gulbarg Society

case has quit, post allegations of a "conflict of interest" by Tanveer Jafri, son of the former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri who was also a victim to the riots.

"I have sent my resignation to the state home department on February 11," said the advocate.

Meanwhile, the state government has told the sessions court today that it wished to replace her with Ajay Choksi. Choksi has an impressive track record of advocating some of the most high profile cases in India.

He had represented the government in Naroda Gam and Prantij riot cases of Sabarkantha when a British national was killed. He has also represented suspended DIG D G Vanjhara and P P Pande in the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case and the Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case respectively.

Jafri had said,"The special public prosecutor, who has been appearing in the Gulbarg case on state's behalf, has also appeared for Rais Khan in other case.

This shows conflict of interest." To this, Luvkumar said,"I am seeking recusal from the post... The personal charges levelled against me are are baseless and reckless and have been made to deviate the legal process and to ensure that the legitimate process is subverted."

In a police complaint, Jafri, Gulbarg society chairman Salim Sandhi, society's secretary Feroz Gulzar, social activists Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand have been accused of embezzlement to the tune of Rs 1.51 Crore.

Two former residents of the society also allege that the accused had misused the foreign funds, meant for the riot-victims.

OneIndia News