SIT subverting riots probe to shield Modi: NGOs, Gandhians

AHMEDABAD: Civil society groups and veteran Gandhians in Gujarat have alleged the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team was "subverting" probe in the 2002 riot cases to shield Chief Minister Narendra Modi and others.

In a letter to Chief Justice of India (CJI) S H Kapadia, they have questioned the integrity of the SIT, headed by former CBI Director R K Raghavan, in probing the riot cases in a just and unbiased manner.

"As citizens of Gujarat we write to you, concerned that a historic investigation under the supervision of the Supreme Court since 2008 is being subverted by vested interests inimical to the rule of law," the letter claimed.

"This could prove disastrous for lasting and sustainable justice that has to be the pre-requisite for peace and harmony (in the state)."

"We are concerned and puzzled at the silence of SIT over media reports on it filing closure report with regard to Zakia Jaffery's complaint against Modi and 62 others," veteran Gandhian Chunibhai Vaidya told mediapersons here after releasing the letter.

Others who have signed the letter include former Chief Minister Suresh Mehta, Father Cedric Prakash, of Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace, former VC of Bhavnagar University Vidhyut Joshi, General Secretary of People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) Gautam Thaker, and Dwarikanath of Movement for Secular Democracy and others.