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 11:51 AM IST

      Sibal: [Divecha's flat was set on fire by evening] From morning to 4 (evening) no bandobast was made. Again, Divecha's statement never recorded, Quadri's sentence never recorded, fire brigade's statement never recorded.

    • 16 Nov 2021 11:47 AM IST

      Bench: Collaboration is with official not SIT.

      Sibal: Yes, collaboration here is not with SIT. [Reads out the letter written by Justice Divecha about frightful incident around his residence]

      Sibal: [Divecha's flat was set on fire by evening] From morning to 4 (evening) no bandobast was made. Again, Divecha's statement never recorded, Quadri's sentence never recorded, fire brigade's statement never recorded.

    • 16 Nov 2021 11:47 AM IST

      Sibal: This is an indictment based on evidence before the commission. SIT did not examine. Would that be negligence, collaboration or oversight.

      Bench - This was with the police. This SIT was not responsible for the findings.

      Sibal: I am saying that why did the SIT did not examine the record.


    • 16 Nov 2021 11:39 AM IST

      Sibal:Even when complaint were made, name of offenders not noted.This shows collaboration of the machineries of the State. In almost all cases copies of FIR not given.[Instances of Rape] FIR not recorded, and victims harassed.These are grave matter not to be forgiven or forgotten

    • 16 Nov 2021 11:38 AM IST

      Sibal:You should have taken his phone (examined it).

    • 16 Nov 2021 11:38 AM IST

      Sibal:[Reads from NHRC proeedings] If Zakia repeats it, it is based on the records of a statutory body (NHRC). What did SIT do, took statement of Jadeja and Ashok Bhat, accepts statement and closes the matter. Then what are you investigating.

    • 16 Nov 2021 11:38 AM IST

      Sibal: Kindly see that 11000 something people were arrested. When and where arrests were made. Where the named accused arrested. Milords, specific names not arrested. Those arrested were immediately bailed out.

      Bench - If they are bailed out then how can you blame the investigating agency.

      Sibal: The prosecutors did not oppose.

    • 16 Nov 2021 11:34 AM IST

      Sibal: Milords who is responsible for this. NHRC had to file a petition in SC to validate the tapes. State Gov was not bothered about it.

      Sibal: Next, Pattern of arrest.

    • 16 Nov 2021 11:33 AM IST

      Sibal: This evidence was available way back in 2002, reiterated in the protest petition, set out in complaint. [Reads Heading - Failure to identify local factors.] The response of State is that we will not give you (NHRC) response, we have set up Nanavati Commission.

    • 16 Nov 2021 11:33 AM IST

      Sibal: State IB had alerted about movement of kar sevaks (when they left Guj), however specific alert on the return was received on 28th, after the incident. There was a major failure of Intelligence and the state has not rebutted that presumption.

      Sibal: People armed with mobile telephones singling out house for carrying out attacks. No mobile phone seized. What would an ordinary investigator do. They would have seized the mobile phone. Till date no mobile phone seized.

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