Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is unlikely to today appear before the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with a 2002 Gujarat riots case, official sources said.
SIT had summoned Modi in connection with a complaint of Zakia Jaffery, widow of former MP Eshan Jaffery who was killed by a mob along with 69 others at Gulburg society in February 2002.
"Modi is not likely to appear before the SIT today," sources in the state government said.
The Supreme Court had on April 27 last year asked the SIT to inquire into Zakia's complaint in which she alleged that Modi and 62 others, including his cabinet colleagues, police officials and senior bureaucrats aided and abetted the riots which left over 1,000 people dead.
Zakia approached the apex court after the Gujarat High Court refused on November 3, 2007 to give any direction and asked her to seek redressal before a magistrate's court.
SIT had to face legal hurdles while probing Zakia's complaint when in July last year former BJP MLA Kalu Malivad, one of the 63 people named in the complaint, approached the Gujarat High Court seeking a stay on investigations by SIT.
The High Court had dismissed the petition saying as SIT is working under the supervision of the Supreme Court no relief could be granted.
{{/usCountry}}The High Court had dismissed the petition saying as SIT is working under the supervision of the Supreme Court no relief could be granted.
{{/usCountry}}Malivad then approached the apex court challenging the High Court verdict.
SIT has already recorded statements of a number of persons named in Zakisa's complaint which include former minister of state for Home Gordhan Zadafia, BJP leader I K Jadeja, former BJP MLA from Lunawada Kalu Malivad and sitting MLA from Mehsana Anil Patel, former IPS officer R B Sreekumar, social activist Teesta Setalvad, IG Shivanand Jha, some other senior police officers and political leaders.