Timeline: From Gujarat riots to Supreme Court rejecting ‘larger conspiracy’ probe plea

2002 Gujarat riots: The Supreme Court said the plea of Zakia Jafri, the wife of slain Congress leader Ehsan Jafri, was devoid of merit.

Published on: Jun 24, 2022, 13:16:42 IST

By HT News Desk | Written by Aryan Prakash | Edited by Chandrashekar Srinivasan

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected the petition of Zakia Jafri, the wife of slain Congress leader Ehsan Jafri, in the 2002 Gujarat riots case. The top court rejected a plea seeking a probe into allegations of a larger conspiracy and questioning the clean chit to prime minister Narendra Modi, who was then Gujarat chief minister, and 63 others. The court called Jafri's plea devoid of merit.

In this file photo, survivors of the 2002 Gujarat riots weep inside a house that was burnt and damaged in the 2002 riots at the Gulbarg Society,  (Reuters)

2002 Gujarat riots case timeline:

February 2002: A residential cluster - Gulbarg Society - in Ahmedabad that was home to upper middle class families mostly from the Muslim community was attacked by a mob. By that evening, 69 people, including former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, were burnt to death.

June 2006: Zakia Jafri, wife of Ehsan Jafri, submitted a complaint alleging police had not registered FIRs against Modi and others, including ministers and top state officials. The police refused to lodge the complaint.

November 2007: The Gujarat high court redirected Zakia Jafri's plea to a magistrate's court.

March 2008: The Supreme Court ordered the state to re-investigate nine cases, including the Gulbarg Society incident. The court constituted a SIT headed by former CBI director Dr RK Raghavan to probe the cases afresh. In March 2010, Modi was questioned for over nine hours.

May 2010: The SIT told the Supreme Court there is no evidence to substantiate the allegations.

2011: The top court directed the SIT to examine Jafri's complaint alleging a larger conspiracy. The SIT found no substance and filed a closure report in February 2012.

April 2013: Zakia Jafri filed a protest petition in the metropolitan court challenging the clean chit.

December 2013: No case is made out against the accused, the court ruled.

April 2014: Supreme Court refused to entertain plea questioning the clean chit.

October 2017: Gujarat high court upheld clean chit to Modi and 58 others by the SIT.

2018: Zakia Jafri filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the high court's order.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.