The Supreme Court Monday directed a trial court to hear a petition by Zakia Jafri, widow of former MP Ehsan Jafri who was killed in the Gulberg Society carnage during the 2002 riots, against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
The petition alleged deliberate inaction on part of the Gujarat chief minister, his cabinet colleagues and some high-ranking state officials.
The court said the magistrate, before deciding on the complaint by Zakia Jafri, will issue her a notice and afford her an opportunity to be heard.
The court also asked the special investigation team (SIT) headed by former Central Bureau of Investigation director R.K. Raghvan to file its status report before the concerned magistrate.
The amicus curiae (friend of the court) Raju Ramachandran report, which differed with the findings of the SIT, is also to be referred to the magistrate.
After that, the magistrate will take a final call on the alleged involvement of people named in the FIR.
In the 2002 incident, 37 people, including the former Congress MP Jafri, were killed. The rampaging mob targeted members of Muslim community in the Ahmedabad neighbourhood and set it afire.
On April 27, 2009, theSupreme court had asked the SIT to ‘look into’ the complaint of Zakia Jafri alleging involvement of 63 people, including the chief minister, for inaction.
