Narendra Modi cannot dodge court appearance in the Gulbarg society riots case, say experts
Narendra Modi cannot dodge court appearance in the Gulbarg society riots case, say experts
THE summons issued by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in connection with the Gulbarg Society riots case has raised speculation over what lies in store for Modi.
Zakia Jaffery, widow of ex-Congress Member of Parliament Ehsan Jaffery who lived in Gulbarg Society and was killed in the riot, had filed the complaint.
Modi has to appear before the SIT on March 21.
Activist Teesta Setalvad said there was now a ray of hope in the Gujarat riots case. "In the past, the SIT has let down the mandate of the Supreme Court. Now, there is some hope," said Setalvad.
Whether Modi should be removed as chief minister, she said:u00a0 "I do not want to comment on that. I am an activist, not a politician, All along, he has been using the state machinery to shield himself."
Legal opinions
"There is no way he can dodge the appearance in court. We must have full faith in the Supreme Court, and the court will ensure that howsoever big and powerful a person, he has to undergo the legal process.
The question of his resigning arises only if he has to be arrested. Otherwise, there is no legal binding."
u00a0K T S Tulsi
Advocate, Supreme Court
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"He can try and dodge the appearance in court by saying that if there is no FIR in the case. But that could prove counterproductive as the court can immediately issue directions for an FIR.
He is not bound to resign, simply because the summons has been issued. But he should have quit long ago."u00a0
Prashant Bhushan
Advocate, Supreme Court
u00a0
"There is no way he can avoid appearing before the court. The only option he has is to challenge the order by appealing in front of the Supreme Court's full bench.
He can't afford to quit."
V K Ohri
Legal expert from Delhi
February 28, 2002
The day Congress Member of Parliament Ehsan Jaffery was killed in the riot at Gulbarg Society
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