New DGP feels riots cases probe 'satisfactory, good'

New Gujarat Police chief Sabir Hussain Khandwawala feels that the investigation into 2002 riots cases by the state police was quite “satisfactory and good” as the Supreme Court has not passed any comment on it.

“2,200 cases were given for investigation by SC in Gujarat. Ten senior officers formed a committee. I was one of the members. We have been submitting reports since last four-and-a-half years or so. I think the interrogation is almost complete. Hardly once SC has passed any comments on that,” he said.

Khandwawala, a member of the SC-appointed cell to review cases related to the 2002 riots, was yesterday named as Gujarat's director general of police, the first Muslim to hold the post. “It means that investigation done by Gujarat Police was quite satisfactory and good. I being a very senior member, no one has approached me in the four-and-a-half years about any of these (2,200) cases not been listened to or justice not done to them by the investigating officers.” He also said that nothing much should be read about him being a member of the minority community. “We have no religion in police. We have been taught that right from day one.”