SIT submits Godhra riots report to SC

The bench said the main report will be given only to the Gujarat government and advocate Harish Salve who is assisting the Court as an amicus curiae and asked them to file their suggestions in respect to it within four weeks.

The court,however,said the confidential report will not be given to anyone.

The court said the SIT,comprising former CBI chief,former DG of UP Police C D Satpathy and three IPS officers from Gujarat — Geeta Johri,Shivanand Jha and Ashish Bhatia,will continue to function and would be free to investigate any other case,if they want to.

The court posted the matter for further hearing on April 13. The apex court had on March 26 last year appointed a five-member investigation team (SIT) to “inquire and investigate” 14 cases related to post-Godhra violence in 2002.

The court had passed the direction on a bunch of petitions filed by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC),individuals and NGOs which had sought transfer of the trial of the riots’ cases outside Gujarat and further investigation or re-investigation by the CBI.

The petitions were filed after several witnesses turned hostile amid allegations of threat,coercion and inducement to derail the investigation.

The NHRC had filed the petition in 2003 for transfer of the case and trial expressing fears that it would not be conducted in a fair and transparent manner.