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The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave final opportunity to file convenience compilation & argue the case filed by wife of late MP Ehsan Jafri challenging the “clean chit” given by the SIT to the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi in cases related to the 2002 Gujarat Riots.

A bench of Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice Dinesh Maheshwari said to Kapil Sibal appearing for Jafri’s wife, "this matter is pending since 2018, no request for adjournment will be entertained on the next date."

The plea has been filed by the wife of MP Ehsan Jafri who was killed during the Gujarat riots.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal requested for the Court to provide him with an indulgence as the files ran into huge documents and his office was working on filing convenience compilation.

However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta objected by stating that the matter is being adjourned for the last one and a half years.

Whereas, the Court said, "Mr. Mehta was quite considerate in saying that it has been one and a half years, this matter is pending since 2018."

The Court has adjourned the matter for hearing on October 26, 2021, stating that no further adjournment will be allowed.

Ehsan Jafri was killed on February 28, 2002, and was one among the 68 people killed at Gulberg Society Ahmedabad, which was immediately after the day on which Sabarmati Express was burnt at Godhra, thereby instigating Gujarat Riots 2002 and killing 59 people on board.

The SIT in its closure report gave a clean chit to the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi stating that no prosecutable evidence was found, along with 63 others including Government officers.

The plea has alleged that there is a larger conspiracy behind the incident.

On the earlier occasions, the Court had said that the matter needs to be heard at some stage it is being adjourned for very long at behest of the petitioner.

Case Title: Zakia Ahsan Jafri and Anr. Vs. The State of Gujarat and Anr.

(photo credits: NDTV)