As was widely expected, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday did not show up before the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team to answer criminal charges levelled against him by former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri's widow, Zakiya Jafri.
The Supreme Court had mandated SIT in April 2009 to look into Zakiya Jafri's complaint and eight other cases of rioting that engulfed Gujarat in the aftermath of Godhra train carnage in February 2002.
According to Girish Patel, human rights activist and senior advocate of Gujarat high court, Modi could easily avoid SIT till some time in April when the Supreme Court is likely to examine a proprietary and legal issue raised by Ram Jethmalani over the constitution of the SIT by the apex court. Ram Jethmalani is representing one of the accused in the Gulbarg Society case where Ehsan Jafri and 68 people were killed by the mob on February 28, 2002.
"He can easily ask for time till the Supreme Court gives its opinion on the proprietary and legal constitution of SIT, which is expected to come up some time in April," Patel told rediff.com.
The senior HC advocate also pointed out that it is an unprecedented situation whereby the investigations into a case (by the SIT) are still on even as the trial is going on against the accused.
However, other human rights activists said that Modi is a master politician and he would like to derive maximum political dividend out of his appearance before the SIT.
"That's the reason he didn't show up before the SIT on a Sunday given that Gujaratis like to go out on outings on Sundays. He would likely appear before the SIT on Monday (March 21) when the Old Secretariat building will be a bee-hive of people," said one human rights activist.
"Who knows he might address the media after his questioning by the SIT tomorrow."
