The speacial team investigating the anti-Muslim riots that rocked Gujarat in 2002 and the role of Chief Minister Narendra Modi, if any, will have two more members.
The Supreme Court on Friday appointed the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) former special director Paramveer Singh and former deputy inspector general A.K. Malhotra to the Special Investigation Team (SIT).
The appointments have been made in view of the team’s increased workload and inability of a member to continue in the panel.
The team was appointed by the court last year to probe nine post-Godhra riots.
The SIT, headed by former CBI director R.K. Raghvan will now have six police officers, including Geetha Johri, Shivanand Jha and Ashish Bhatia.
The Friday’s appointments were made on the recommendations of Raghvan. The court also accepted his request to relieve former Uttar Pradesh police chief C.B. Sathpathy from the team.
Sathpathy had gone abroad and didn’t want to continue in the SIT, Raghvan said in his letter. He requested for two more persons, saying the panel’s task had expanded owing to the court’s recent orders.
The court recently asked the team to look into the alleged role of Modi. It also ordered fast-track courts, to try nine riot cases. The SIT was told to keep an eye on the proceedings and ensure witness protection.
{{/usCountry}}The court recently asked the team to look into the alleged role of Modi. It also ordered fast-track courts, to try nine riot cases. The SIT was told to keep an eye on the proceedings and ensure witness protection.
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