The Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) has summoned Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on March 21 in connection with a petition filed by Zakia Jafri, widow of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri who was killed in the 2002 post-Godhra riots.
Ehsan Jafri was burnt alive with 37 others at the Gulbarg Society on February 28, 2002, a day after the attack on the Sabarmati Express in Godhra.In her petition to the Supreme Court, Zakia Jafri named Modi and 62 others, including seven who were ministers in 2002, and several officials. She alleged that Modi conspired with and instructed the then DGP and other senior officials to let Hindus vent their anger after the Godhra incident.
In April 2009, the Supreme Court, on her complaint, directed the SIT to probe the alleged role in the 2002 riots of the 63 people she had named. The SIT is to submit its report to the Supreme Court by April 30.
Earlier, the Gujarat government contested an application demanding that the Nanavati-Mehta Commission, which is probing the Sabarmati Express attack and the 2002 riots, including the Gulbarg Society incident, summon Modi. A hearing is scheduled for March 15.