Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi could be charge-sheeted for his alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots.
According to a report in The Hindu's Sunday edition, Raju Ramachandran, the amicus curiae in the Zakia Jafri case, expressed disagreement with the view of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), who claim that there is no evidence against Modi, in this case.
The amicus curiae's report stated that the case against Narendra Modi cannot be closed, as suggested by the SIT, as there is evidence to charge-sheet him. It added that a conclusion could be drawn only after cross-examining senior police officers, including Sanjiv Bhatt, who alleged that he was present at the February 27, 2002 meeting where the Chief Minister instructed police officials to allow Hindus to "vent their anger" against Muslims.
The report in The Hindu also added that the stage will be set for the prosecution of the Chief Minister if the trial court accepts the amicus curiae's report. The Chief Minister can be charged under various sections of the IPC like 153 A (statements promoting enmity between communities), 153 B (imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integration), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) and 166 (public servant disobeying a direction of the law with the intent to cause injury).
The SIT had earlier recommended the closure of the case against Modi citing lack of evidence. In its 600-page report, the SIT criticized Modi for appointing pro-VHP lawyers as public prosecutors in the case but didn't seek prosecution.
