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 2:49 PM IST

      Sibal: [Refers to (2006) 3 SCC 374 para 4, 5 which deals with Zahira changing stands] - We have just been able to demonstrate that this is how justice is rendered and how agencies behave.

    • 16 Nov 2021 2:41 PM IST

      Sibal: The Magistrate does not deal with this. If the court turns a Nelson's eye then how is this investigation at all.

    • 16 Nov 2021 2:41 PM IST

      Sibal: Milords might note that this judgement was rendered on 12.04.2004. This is the direction that is pointed out in respect of key elements in the trial - nature of investigation, role of PP, role of investigating agency.

    • 16 Nov 2021 2:41 PM IST

      Sibal: Milords, when Pandeya(PP) in Tehelka tapes says he is collaborating with the accused. He has no response to that. [Mr. Sibal reminds the Court that in the Best bakery case it was the same State i.e. Guj. Thereafter, he reads out the criticism of SC in the said judgment]

    • 16 Nov 2021 2:40 PM IST

      Sibal: Milords quite frankly in Zaheera Habibullah's case the task was more difficult, where the TC and HC had acquitted. In our case, the stage is much prior to this [cognisance was not taken].

    • 16 Nov 2021 2:40 PM IST

      Sibal: So, Milords why did the agency show lethargy in not collecting evidence, not relying upon the tapes, not making Ashish Khetan a prosecution witness. 

    • 16 Nov 2021 2:40 PM IST

      Sibal: Your lordship had said when the protest petition is before you, that you have to deal with each and every allegation. That is my grievance with the courts (these allegations along with evidence were not looked into by the Mag. and HC)

    • 16 Nov 2021 2:40 PM IST

      Sibal: What happened was not wrt to one particuar incident. It is that a communal upsurge was not effectively prevented and later the people responsible were not effectively prosecuted. That had to be brought to light by an agency (SIT) appointed by your lordship.

    • 16 Nov 2021 2:39 PM IST

      Sibal: [Reads from the Judgment ] Improper conduct of trial by PPs, investigation by investigating agency was profunctory and not impartial. 

    • 16 Nov 2021 2:17 PM IST

      Sibal: This is how Mag and HC dealt with it. [Refers to (2004)4SCC158 - In this case retrial was ordered, out of Guj to Bombay. Several observations were made on the role of investigating agency in matter of this nature.]

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