Riots Commission adjourns hearing on plea in Modi case

The Hindu, May 20, 2009


Ahmedabad (PTI): The hearing on an NGO's application asking for cross-examination of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and others in connection with 2002 riots, was adjourned till June 22 by the Nanavati-Mehta Commission probing the cases here on Wednesday.

The Commission comprising retired Justices G T Nanavati and Akshay Mehta adjourned the hearing after the government lawyer Tempton Nanavati asked for time as the Advocate General wanted to appear for hearing in the matter.

He said that since the Advocate General was abroad, further hearing in the matter may be kept after June 18. The Commission accepted Nanavati's request and posted the matter for further hearing on June 22.

The Commission had decided to hear the application filed by an NGO Jan Sangharsh Manch (JSM) demanding cross-examination of Modi, some State ministers, police officials and others, in connection with the post-Godhra riot cases.

Mukul Sinha, convenor of JSM, on Wednesday submitted before the panel that "the role and conduct of the Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the then Home Minister Gordhan Zadafia, Health Minister Ashok Bhatt and others persons requires in-depth probe as envisaged by the the extended terms of Reference (of the Commission)".