More reprieve for Modi in riots case

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the Supreme court to probe the 2002 Gujarat riots cases has found no "prosecutable evidence" against Chief Minister Narendra Modi, media reports said.

The final report, in connection with the complaint filed against Modi by Zakiya Jafri, the wife of slain Congress MP Ehsaan Jafri, is likely to bring more respite to the Chief Minister and 60 others in the long-dragged case.

The SIT has also said that it has found no substantial evidence to back suspended police officer Sanjiv Bhatt´s claims that Modi had ordered rioters to be given a free hand, media reports said.

Refusing to take a position on the merits of the case, the Supreme Court had last year had instead directed the SIT to submit a final report to a trial court that it said should study the evidence and charges against Modi.

The Chief Minister had been accused of ensuring assistance was not provided to those being attacked by Zakiya Jafri, whose husband and former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri was set on fire during the riots.

The infamous Gujarat riots of 2002 left hundreds of Muslims dead, injured and tortured and came as a blot in the BJP rule in the state.

The riots followed an incident of train burning in Godhra in which Hindus returning from Ayodhya were killed by a Muslim mob.

Around 1,000 supporters of prime accused Maulvi Umarjihad attacked the coach at the Godhra station and torched it killing 59 people and injuring many.

Earlier last week, in a major relief to Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the Gujarat High Court on Feb 1 rejected a plea filed by an NGO to make chief minister Narendra Modi depose before the Nanavati Commission probing the 2002 riots.

The court said it is the discretion of the Commission to summon Modi or not.