SC defers hearing as Zakia’s counsel seeks adjournment

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 4

The Supreme Court on Tuesday deferred hearing on Zakia Jafri’s petition challenging the clean chit to the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the 2002 Godhra riots in which her husband and former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri was killed.

Zakia had filed a petition in the apex court in 2018 challenging the Gujarat High Court’s October 5, 2017 order rejecting her plea against the decision of the Special Investigation Team. Jafri was among the 68 people killed at Gulberg Society on February 28, 2002, a day after the S-6 Coach of the Sabarmati Express was burnt at Godhra killing 59 people and triggering riots in Gujarat.

On February 8, 2012, the SIT filed a closure report giving a clean chit to Modi and 63 others, including senior government officials, saying there was “no prosecutable evidence” against them. A Bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar deferred the hearing to April 14 after Zakia’s advocate requested it to post the matter after Holi vacation.

“It has been adjourned so many times; whatever it is, we will have to hear it someday. Take one date and make sure you all are available,” the Bench commented.