SC rejects plea for CBI probe into Godhra mass burial row

New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government in Gujarat under judicial scanner for its perceived role in post-Godhra communal violence on Thursday received a reprieve with the Supreme Court turning down a plea for a CBI inquiry into alleged clandestine mass burial of 22 victims by the state.

A bench of Justices BN Aggrawal and JM Panchal dismissed the petition filed by Ammenabi Habib Rasool, a family member of one the alleged victims who sought a probe either by CBI or Special Invetigation Team (SIT) into the alleged burial of the victims in March 2002.

The petitioner claimed that about 102 victims belonging to the minority community were killed by mobs on 1 March 2002, at Pandharwada and Limadiya Chowky area in Godhra district during the riots. Out of those killed, 22 victims were buried by the authorities without the consent or knowledge of the family members.

“After how many years have you come? Its seven years,” the bench said tersely while dismissing the petition filed through counsel Aparna Bhat.

According to the petitioner, a probe by CBI or any other independent investigating agency like SIT constituted by the apex court on post-Godhra violence was essential to identify and prosecute the police and other persons responsible for burial of the victims.