SC to hear plea by Zakia Jafri against clean chit to Modi in 2002 riots case on April 13

A bench presided over by Justice A M Khanwilkar fixed the matter for consideration on April 13

The Supreme Court on Tuesday fixed April 13 as the date for hearing a plea made by Zakia Jafri, widow of Congress M P Ehsan Jafri, against the clean chit given to Narendra Modi, then chief minister, and others in 2002 Gujarat riots.

A bench presided over by Justice A M Khanwilkar deferred the matter once against on a request by the counsel. It, however, fixed the matter for consideration on April 13.

"It is made clear that no request for further adjournment will be sought by either side on that day," the bench, also comprising Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and Krishna Murari, said in its order.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioner submitted that the counsel were busy in Maratha reservation matter before the Constitution bench. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the SIT, contended that the matter should be heard.

The court, however, by consent posted the matter for hearing on April 13.

The matter has earlier been adjourned for a number of times.

In February, last year, the court noted the matter had been adjourned several times and it had to be heard.

80-year-old, Zakia filed the petition against the Gujarat High Court's order of October 2017, that upheld clean chit given to Modi and others by the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team.

The petitioner, whose husband Congress MP Ehsan Jafri was burnt to death in their house Gulberg society, contended Modi, and 59 others, including bureaucrats and police officers, should be made accused for being a part of criminal conspiracy for the 2002 riots.

She had approached the high court in 2014 after the trial court rejected the objection application by her against the clean chit given by the SIT headed by former CBI director R K Raghavan.