New Delhi: Zakia Jafri,
widow of former MP Ehsan Jafri killed in the Gulberg Society
carnage during the 2002 Gujarat riots, moved the Supreme Court in
2008 after the Gujarat High Court dismissed her plea seeking
registration of a murder and conspiracy case against Gujarat Chief
Minister Narendra Modi and others.
The Supreme Court Monday asked the trial court hearing the carnage
case to decide her complaint.
The high court had Nov 2, 2007, dismissed her plea for a direction
to Gujarat police chief to register her private complaint dated
June 8, 2006, as a first information report (FIR) and direct
investigation by an independent agency.
After the carnage, an FIR relating to the incident was registered
in Meghaninagar Police Station, Ahmedabad. After investigation, on
the filing of the charge sheet, the case was committed to the
court of sessions, Ahmedabad.
The high court said it was Zakia Jafri's contention that
subsequently she received certain material which showed that the
incidents which took place during the period between Feb 27, 2002
and May 10, 2002, were aided, abetted and conspired by some
responsible persons in power, in connivance with the state
administration, including police.
The court said she sought registration of another FIR against
certain people named in her complaint for offences including
murder, conspiracy offences and giving false evidence.
Police declined to take cognizance of her complaint and she filed
the petition in the high court.
While dismissing Zakia's appeal, the high court said that "if the
appellant (Zakia Jafri) had got certain additional material
against some persons accused in her complaint, it was open to her
to approach the investigating agency, requesting further
investigation, or, alternatively she could herself approach the
court concerned for further investigation".
Zakia Jafri's husband was among the 69 people killed Feb 28, 2002,
in the Gulberg Housing Society of Ahmedabad when murderous, armed
mobs attacked the residents a day after the train burning in
Godhra.
Ehsan Jafri, a former Congress parliamentarian made numerous
requests to police, political leaders, the chief minister's office
and his well wishers when the society was attacked. But no one
came to his rescue.
Zakia Jafri alleged inaction by 63 people, including the chief
minister.
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