Gujarat Riots: Zakia Jafri's Plea Against Clean Chit To Narendra Modi: LIVE UPDATES From Supreme Court

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16 Nov 2021 11:04 AM IST

  • Gujarat Riots: Zakia Jafris Plea Against Clean Chit To Narendra Modi: LIVE UPDATES From Supreme Court

    Supreme Court will continue hearing today the petition filed by Zakia Jafri challenging the SIT's clean chit to the then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi & other high functionaries in the #GujaratRiots of 2002.A Bench comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and CT Ravikumar is hearing the matter.During the course of 3 days before today, Mr. Sibal took the bench through the documents...

    Supreme Court will continue hearing today the petition filed by Zakia Jafri challenging the SIT's clean chit to the then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi & other high functionaries in the #GujaratRiots of 2002.

    A Bench comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and CT Ravikumar is hearing the matter.

    During the course of 3 days before today, Mr. Sibal took the bench through the documents to demonstrate the failure of the SIT in investigating the matter and the flaw in SIT's stand that there was no violence or arson. SIT has not challenged the Gujarat High Court's decision to acquit Maya Kodnani, former BJP MLA from Naroda, who was identified as the 'kingpin' in the Naroda Patiya massacre of 2002 by the trial court, Mr. Kapil Sibal argued hinting at the political optics of the SIT not challenging the High Court order. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal told the Supreme Court that the SIT head RK Raghavan was appointed as a High Commissioner later, and all these people who 'collaborated were rehabilitated later.

    Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal is arguing for the petitioner, Zakia Jafri, widow of Congress MLA Ehsan Jafri who was killed in the Gulberg Housing Society massacre during the 2002 Gujarat Riots. She approached the Supreme Court through a special leave petition challenging the SIT report which ruled out any "larger conspiracy" by high state functionaries in instigating the communal riots following the Godhra massacre.

    Stay On This Page For Live Updates From The Hearing.

    Live Updates

    • 16 Nov 2021 11:32 AM IST

      Sibal: In other words complete cooperation of State Gov. SIT doesn't look at it. Now come to Failure of Intelligence. This is important. This was with prosecuting agency from the very beginning. Why was it not examined by SIT.

    • 16 Nov 2021 11:23 AM IST

      Sibal: Despite repeated reminders no response was received about the report. They could not longer wait for response and further recommendations were made. [Sibal points out that the Commission states that nothing in the response rebuts the presumption.]

    • 16 Nov 2021 11:23 AM IST

      Sibal: Milords, kindly come to the proceedings on 1st May. The sealed cover never saw the light of the day. No one in NHRC ever examined. Why? Then you jump to 31st of May. Heading Lack of response to confidential report. Till 31st May this report was not looked into. Why did SIT not ask for these documents. Why did they not examine it?

    • 16 Nov 2021 11:22 AM IST

      Sibal: Milords, kindly come to the proceedings on 1st May. The sealed cover never saw the light of the day. No one in NHRC ever examined. Why? Then you jump to 31st of May. Heading Lack of response to confidential report. Till 31st May this report was not looked into. Why did SIT

    • 16 Nov 2021 11:22 AM IST

      Sibal: Reads out the Recommendations of NHRC including entrusting of some critical cases to CBI; special courts should try this cases on a day to day cases, judges should be handpicked and special prosecutor appointed; Special cells.

    • 16 Nov 2021 11:11 AM IST

      Sibal: [He emphasised that the Commission expressed disappointment] No response from Govt of Guj. That was the problem. The report asked for on 1st March was received only in 20th March.

      Sibal: They started enquiring this suo moto as I have shown from the 1st document. [He emphasised that the Commission stated that burden to rebut presumption was on the Govt.]

    • 16 Nov 2021 11:10 AM IST

      Sibal: Pg 8 of Vol. X - Proceeding of NHRC. As your Lordship knows that it functions under the Human Rights Act. Kindly come to page 10. See what it says as pg 10. This is March 1, 2002. Now come to pg. 11. So this notice [issued by NHRC] is sent in 2002.

      Sibal: [He reads out observations of NHRC] It was the concern of the commission to see an end to the violence and restoration of normalcy. Milords mark the fact that the SIT never took any statements of any members of the commission.There were preliminary sealed cover reports.

    • 16 Nov 2021 11:10 AM IST

      Bench: Maybe you have missed it in the record of the cases.


    • 16 Nov 2021 11:09 AM IST

      Bench: You can pitch to this extent that these were to be done by SIT, but it was not done. Error of judgment will be explained by SIT then only you can.

      Sibal: The accused were not prosecuted by the SIT. So far there is nothing on record that offers any explanation. There is nothing in the records of the case.

    • 16 Nov 2021 11:08 AM IST

      Sibal: SIT had knowledge of Tehelka tapes. They knew about the judgment of Guj HC that authenticated the tapes. That is a question that anyone would ask. Why was the defence accepted by the SIT. what does it show - was SIT collaborating and saving some people. Why ? I don't know.

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