Modi questioning a big step8230; can call him again: SIT chief

Referring to the Gulberg Society massacre,the SIT chief said: It is a very big step forward in trying to understand and unravel quite a few mysteries of what happened there. I am happy that we were able to get the CM for questioning.

Asked if Modi had cooperated fully,Raghavan replied: The fact that he came8230; we are happy. There has been an active dialogue. He said he was reasonably confident about meeting the April 30 deadline for submitting the SITs report to the apex court. We will burn the midnight oil, he said.

On whether the SIT would call Modi for questioning again,he said: I have to look at the evidence that has been collected. I have to look at what he has told Malhotra. He added: This applies to every witness. If I find there are some gaps,the SIT has a right to recall any witness.

Declining to go into the details,he maintained that Malhotra,who questioned the Chief Minister in two sessions yesterday,looks relaxed and said he had confidence in the officers abilities. When asked if the questions went beyond the Gulberg killings,Raghavan replied,our Bible is Zakias petition, referring to the petition filed by Zakia Jafri,widow of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri,who was among those killed in Gulberg Society.

Emerging from the marathon session with the SIT at 1 am on Sunday,Modi had said that he was questioned on everything,beginning from the Sabarmati train carnage to the Assembly elections. February 27 se jab tak elections hue,sabhi puccha gaya,itna bada canvas hain8230;  maine gine nahin kitne sawal pucche gaye From February 27 2002 till the time elections got over December 2002,I was asked about everything,it was such a large canvas8230; I did not count how many questions were asked, he said.

Whatever I rembered of the events eight years ago,I recounted and it was transcribed,which I signed. I have fulfilled my responsibility, said Modi. But he refused to elaborate on the questions that were asked. Yeh saare sawaal,uske jawab,aur uski saari comment Supreme Court ko diya jaayega. Aur SC tay karengi ki aapko dena ya nahin dena all these questions,their answers,and comments will be given to the Supreme Court. And the SC will decide if it should be shared with you or not, he said.

Asked if Modi was relaxed during the questioning,Raghavan today said: Malhotra is a man of grace. I am sure he extended utmost courtesy to the Chief Minister.

On why he did not personally question Modi,Raghavan said that as the SIT chief,he does not meet the witnesses or the accused the job is left to the inquiry officer. It is a good old practice that is followed by the CBI. I have brought in the practice here, he said.

I never flinch when Im doing justice to a person who has been victimised8230; I am quite conscious of my responsibilities here. I think it is a sacred trust which has been given to me by the Supreme Court, he said.

The SIT chief,who is camping at the IPS officers mess here,also rejected allegations of delay or bias,saying they were doing a good job and were ultimately accountable to the law and the courts.

On whether he was under any political pressure,Raghavan replied: Do I look like a man under pressure? I am relaxed8230; I do my job. He said he had consciously kept Gujarat officers away as far as the Modi inquiry is concerned.

However,he refused to comment on the confusion over the date of questioning. That is history,I do not like to go into history,but like to go forward. On March 11,the SIT had said that Modi would be questioned on March 21. However,the CM did not turn up at the SIT office. A day later,Modi,in an open letter,claimed that he was not called by the SIT on that date.

Asked if they had issued a summons or a notice to the CM,Raghavan replied: That is also history,he came,appeared8230; thats all.