Zakia moves fresh plea for SIT report

The SIT submitted its report on Zakia’s complaint against Chief Minister Narendra Modi and 61 others for their alleged complicity in the riots,last month. Subsequently,it also submitted supporting documents in five trunks early this week.

Following this,Zakia moved a fresh petition seeking a copy of the report along with the documents. Earlier,a similar application by her was not allowed by the court as the SIT had not filed the full report by then.

Zakia’s fresh petition was argued by her counsel Mihir Desai who said the SIT has submitted the report under the provisions of Criminal Procedure Code. And as per the provisions,it has to be either a closure report or a chargesheet.

In either of the case,he argued,the complainant is entitled to get copy of the report to represent and prepare her case. He said that only if Zakia is provided a full report at this stage that her right to fair trial would be realised.

He argued the report and supportive documents are public documents even under the provisions of the Right to Information Act and so,they have to be provided to the complainant. Desai accused the SIT of opposing supply of the report to Zakia on one hand and leaking selective portion of the same to the media on the other.

SIT counsel R S Jamuvar sought time to reply to the application and was accordingly given time till March 27 when further hearing is scheduled.