Will continue investigation, apex court wants further report

The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which was set up by the Supreme Court to reinvestigate the 2002 post-Godhra riots, submitted its report before the apex court on Monday.

The SIT, headed by former CBI director RK Raghavan, is investigating nine cases, including the Sabarmati Express carnage incident and the subsequent Naroda Patia, Naroda Gaam and Gulbarg society massacres. The team submitted its report before a bench comprising justices Arijit Pasayat, P Sathasivam and Aftab Alam.

A source close to the development said that two reports were submitted: a confidential one for the judges only and another that talked about details and the progress of the investigation of the SIT. “The apex court said that the second report, which talks about the progress of the investigation, will be submitted to the state government and senior advocate Harish Salve, who is assisting the court, as amicus curiae,” the source said.

However, the details of the confidential report could not be divulged, a source said. The Supreme Court has asked the SIT to continue its investigation and file a further report in this regard, a source close to the development said.

Meanwhile, the Jan Sangharsh Manch (JSM) told DNA it was considering joining as party in the proceedings. Lawyer Mukul Sinha, convenor of the JSM, said, “We are considering becoming a party to the proceedings as we want to point out evidence in all nine cases and assist the court in reaching a conclusion with regard to the investigation of the SIT.”

Maya hearing deferred

Justice DH Waghela on Monday deferred the hearing on the application filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) seeking cancellation of the anticipatory bail granted to minister of state for woman development and child welfare, Maya Kodnani, and VHP leader Jaydeep Patel in the Naroda Patia and Naroda Gaam cases, till March 9. Senior counsel SV Raju appeared for the duo. The hearing in the matter was deferred after Kodnani and Patel sought time to file their replies to the notices issued to them by the high court.

DNA Correspondent/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication