SIT doubts Modi's acts, but lacks evidence

New Delhi: The past has come back to haunt Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Tehelka-CNN-IBN have now accessed the Supreme Court appointed SIT report looking specifically at Modi's alleged role during the 2002 post godhra riots. The report, already filed in the apex court, throws up several embarrasing questions for Modi, but doesn't ask for prosecuting him further due to lack of evidence. The 600-page report that looked into allegations against Modi's Administration during the riots said that despite ghastly violent attacks on Muslims in Gulburg Society and Naroda Patiya the reaction of the government was not the type which would have been expected of anyone.

According to the report, the Chief Minister tried to water down the seriousness of the situation at Gulburg Society and Naroda Patiya by saying every action has equal and opposite reaction.

The report also criticised Modi for appointing pro-VHP advocates as public prosecutors in the riot cases.

Modi did not visit riot affected areas though he was at Godhra on February 27, 2002 and most damagingly for Modi the report said, the government destroyed wireless records of police conversation of the day.

The report also was critical of the role played by his cabinet colleagues and bureaucrats and makes mention of presence of Gujarat ministers Ashok Bhatt and IK Jadeja in the Ahmedabad and Ghandinagar police control rooms during the riots and being in touch with other BJP and VHP leaders.

The report also criticised retired bureaucrats who were not forth coming in their depositions as they have got post retirement benefits.

But in its conclusion, the report said, substantiated allegations don't throw up material that would justify further action under law.

So was the report a cop out or was it an attempt made by SIT to bring facts about Modi in public domain? The BJP hasn't reacted so far, but it's clear, that on March 3, when the Supreme Court will take up the matter, Narendra Modi will be a concerned man.

Godhra riots: enough evidence to nail Modi?

New Delhi: The trajectory of Narendra Modi's political career could well depend on this report - the Raghvan Committee findings on post Godhra riots in Gujarat does not give a clean chit to Narendra Modi but also doesn't directly indict him citing lack of evidence.Mukul Sinha, advocate of riot victims said, "There is enough evidence on the basis of which the Supreme Court can order that FIR be lodged in the case agianst the CM".The 600 page report looks at 32 questions against Narendra Modi and Gujarat government officials for their alleged complicity in Gujarat riots of 2002. It accuses Modi of watering down the seriousness of the worst riot affected areas like Gulburg Society and Naroda Patiya by saying riots were reaction to the Godhra train burning. It accuses the CM of destroying wireless records of police conversation on February 27, 2002. There are allegations levelled against Modi that he deliberately kept the state on a communal boil by taking out a Rath Yaatra in July 2002. The entire set of 71 questions that were posed to Narendra Modi by the SIT have also been published.

For the BJP, the biggest question is how did a report in a sealed envelope before the Supreme Court get leaked to the media.

BJP Spokesperson Ravi Shnakar Prasad said, "The report is with the apex court in a sealed evelope how its has been leaked to the media? The UPA is trying to divert people's attention from real issues like price rise".

Shaktisinh Gohil, LoP, Gujarat Assembly said, "There is sufficient evidence. I hope now justice will be delivered to the people of the state".

What Supreme Court decides will have ramifications both for Narendra Modi personally and for the BJP as a political party. Whether Modi is able to move out of the state politics and play a role at the national level could well be defined by courts ruling on the Raghvan Committee Report.

Gujarat cop in trouble for leaking riot tapes

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat government has issued a notice to the state DIG Rahul Sharma, asking him to explain how and why he prepared a CD of phone records during the post-Godhra riots and why did he hand these over to probe agencies without the government's permission.

Nine years after the riots Sharma, an IPS officer, is being accused of leaking telephone call details of police officers, politicians, bureaucrats and Sangh Parivar leaders during the first week of the communal riots of 2002.

Gujarat government has issued the officer a notice asking: why action should not be taken against Sharma for leaking these call records? Why permission was not sought from the state government before preparing a CD of call details? Why state government's permission was not sought before handing over these CDs to Nanvati Commission, UC Banerjee Commission and RK Raghvan chaired Special Investigation Team (SIT)?

Click to play video

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat government has issued a notice to the state DIG Rahul Sharma, asking him to explain how and why he prepared a CD of phone records during the post-Godhra riots and why did he hand these over to probe agencies without the government's permission.Nine years after the riots Sharma, an IPS officer, is being accused of leaking telephone call details of police officers, politicians, bureaucrats and Sangh Parivar leaders during the first week of the communal riots of 2002.Gujarat government has issued the officer a notice asking: why action should not be taken against Sharma for leaking these call records? Why permission was not sought from the state government before preparing a CD of call details? Why state government's permission was not sought before handing over these CDs to Nanvati Commission, UC Banerjee Commission and RK Raghvan chaired Special Investigation Team (SIT)?

The call details have been crucial for investigating the role of state government officials, minister and other leaders in the 2002 riots.

"They are now targeting Mr Sharma because he is singularly responsible for exposing their dirty tricks," said advocate Mukul Sinha.

But Shrama is not the only one who is being targeted for speaking against the government. In past officers like RB Sreekumar, Kuldeep Sharma and AK Surolia have been punished for not toeing the government line.

"Even though I was awarded with two President's medals and received numerous appreciation letters, I was superceded in February from getting my legitimate promotion to the highest rank in the police department,” said RB Sreekumar, DGP (retired) Gujarat.

Whether it be riot survivors, human rights activists, advocates or even honest police officers, the road to justice for the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat has been a bumpy ride so far.