2002 Riots: Gujarat Accuses Activist Teesta Setalvad Of 'Orchestrating' Larger Conspiracy https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/2002-gujarat-riots-gujarat-accuses-activist-teesta-setalvad-of-orchestrating-larger-conspiracy-2634417 December 02, 202
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Gujarat, told Supreme Court that he has nothing to say against Zakia Jafri since she lost her near and dear ones but there has to be a "limit of exploiting" the miseries of a widow.
Mr Mehta told the bench that the SIT had periodically filed status reports before the top court and in the last one, it was "at pains" to point out that Ms Setalvad was "tutoring witnesses, was preparing pre-typed computerised statements and sending them".
"And it has remained my complaint from the beginning why the SIT did not prosecute her for fabricating false evidence. This is nothing but fabricating false evidence," he said during the arguments, which will now continue on December 7.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the SIT, argued that the allegations about a larger conspiracy during the riots are being "driven" by Teesta Setalvad who is petitioner number two in the plea filed by Zakia Jafri in the Supreme Court. Mukul Rohatgi argued that a "quietus" must be given to all this to bring an end as there is nothing to substantiate the allegations of larger conspiracy during the riots and SIT had conducted a thorough investigation on the complaint filed by Zakia Jafri in 2006.
Supreme Court Reserves Verdict On Zakia Jafri's Plea On Gujarat Riots https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/supreme-court-reserves-verdict-on-zakia-jafris-plea-on-gujarat-riots-2643678 The Supreme Court has reserved its verdict on a petition seeking a fresh probe in the 2002 Gujarat riots by activist Teesta Setalvad and Zakia Jafri, the widow of Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, who was killed during the violence. A three-judge bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar was told by senior lawyer Kapil Sibal - representing Ms Jafri - that they have not argued at all about any alleged involvement of the former Chief Minister and they are on the issue of a larger conspiracy which was not probed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Citing "no prosecutable evidence", the SIT had closed its investigation in February 2012 - a decade after the riots - giving a clean chit to 64 accused, including then Chief Minister.
"No larger conspiracy behind Gujarat riots. There is no need to keep this pot boiling... your Lordships should give closure," senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the SIT, told the top court earlier this month.