SC refuses to accept affidavit filed by Sanjiv Bhatt against Narendra Modi in 2002 Gujarat riots case
On Thursday, the Supreme Court directed Special Investigation Team(SIT) to furnish all its report regarding the case to the amicus curiae.
By OUR POLITICAL BUREAU | Updated:
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has refused to take on record the affidavit filed by Indian Police Service officer Sanjiv Bhatt, implicating Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the 2002 Gujarat riots case.
The court is likely to take a view on the affidavit only after amicus curiae (friend of court) Raju Ramachandran examines the contents. On Thursday, the Supreme Court directed SIT to furnish all its report regarding the case to the amicus curiae.
"Amicus curiae will have access to all statements of the witnesses and he can also interact with witnesses, including police officers," the bench said. He will submit his report by July 28.
Bhatt, who heads the State Reserve Police Training Centre at Junagadh, had in an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court accused Modi of asking police officers to allow Hindus to take revenge for the burning of kar sewaks in a train in Godhra in 2002.
He alleged irregularities in the functioning of the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team, or SIT, in the riots that followed the train burning.
Bhatt had claimed that he was summoned along with other senior officials and told to lie low as emotions were running high among Hindus following the burning of two coaches of the Sabarmati Express, in which 59 Hindus were killed. The affidavit also alleged the SC-appointed SIT of "coercing witnesses" and "displaying reluctant attitude" in recording of vital information related to the communal clashes.
However, in his testimony before SIT, Modi had said that Bhatt, being a junior officer at that time, was not present in the meeting. The then state' s Director General of Police K Chakrabarthi and other members who attended the session with the Chief Minister, too, had said that Bhatt was not present at the meeting.
The court is likely to take a view on the affidavit only after amicus curiae (friend of court) Raju Ramachandran examines the contents. On Thursday, the Supreme Court directed SIT to furnish all its report regarding the case to the amicus curiae.
"Amicus curiae will have access to all statements of the witnesses and he can also interact with witnesses, including police officers," the bench said. He will submit his report by July 28.
Bhatt, who heads the State Reserve Police Training Centre at Junagadh, had in an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court accused Modi of asking police officers to allow Hindus to take revenge for the burning of kar sewaks in a train in Godhra in 2002.
He alleged irregularities in the functioning of the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team, or SIT, in the riots that followed the train burning.
Bhatt had claimed that he was summoned along with other senior officials and told to lie low as emotions were running high among Hindus following the burning of two coaches of the Sabarmati Express, in which 59 Hindus were killed. The affidavit also alleged the SC-appointed SIT of "coercing witnesses" and "displaying reluctant attitude" in recording of vital information related to the communal clashes.
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However, in his testimony before SIT, Modi had said that Bhatt, being a junior officer at that time, was not present in the meeting. The then state' s Director General of Police K Chakrabarthi and other members who attended the session with the Chief Minister, too, had said that Bhatt was not present at the meeting.
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