Zakia Jafri, Who Fought Legal Battle In Gujarat Riots Cases, Passes Away

Zakia Jafri, who filed cases seeking a probe into the alleged larger conspiracy behind the 2002 Guarat riots, passed away at Ahmedabad today.

She was the widow of Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, who along with 68 other persons were killed in the Gulberg housing society during the 2002 Gujarat riots. 

Zakia Jafri pursued a legal battle seeking an investigation against the high state functionaries alleging a larger conspiracy behind the riots. After the Magistrate court rejected her protest petition against the clean chit given by the SIT to 63 persons, including the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi and other officials, she approached the Gujarat High Court. The High Court accepted the SIT's closure report in 2017, following which she approached the Supreme Court.

In June 2022, the Supreme Court dismissed Jafri's petition and accepted the SIT's clean chit to the high state functionaries. The Supreme Court also made certain controversial remarks against Jafri's co-petitioner Teesta Setalvad, pursuant to which Setalvad was arrested by the Gujarat Police in a freshly registered case alleging fabrication of evidence. Setalvad was later granted bail by the Supreme Court.

About the passing of Zakia Jafri, Setalvad wrote in 'X' : "Zakia Appa a compassionate leader of the human rights community passed away just 30 minutes ago!Her visionary presence will be missed by the nation family friends & world! Tanveernhai, Nishrin, Duraiyaappa, grandkids we are with you! Rest in Power and Peace Zakia appa!"