SC to hear plea against clean chit to Modi in July

New Delhi, February 11

The Supreme Court will hear Zakia Jafri’s petition challenging clean chit to the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the 2002 Godhra riots after the Lok Sabha polls. A Bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar on Monday listed the matter for hearing in July after the summer vacation.

The SC had on January 15 deferred by four weeks hearing on former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri’s widow Zakia Jafri’s petition challenging the clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others. They were also exonerated of allegations of a larger conspiracy behind the riots. The deferment had happened after Jafri’s counsel sought adjournment. “You are asking for four weeks and we are giving you four weeks. List the matter after four weeks,” the Bench had said.

Ehsan Jafri and 68 others were killed by a mob that attacked Gulberg Society in Ahmedabad on February 28, 2002, during the riots that broke out following the Godhra train carnage that claimed 58 karsevaks’ lives.

Jafri’s counsel told the court that a notice needed to be issued on her plea pertaining to alleged “larger conspiracy” during February 27, 2002, and May 2002.

The Gujarat HC had in October last year upheld the clean chit given to Modi and 58 others by a SIT appointed by the top court. — TNS