Probe against Modi, others as per law: SIT

Investigation against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and 62 others is being carried as per law, Special Investigation Team (SIT) officials said here today.

SIT officials replying to a petition filed by a former BJP MLA, Kalubai Hirabhai Malivad in the Gujarat High Court, requesting to stay the investigations against Modi and others, said it raises 'frivolous points'.

Malivad, who also figures in the list of 63 persons, contended in his petition that Apex Court had asked SIT to 'look into' the complaint, and this doesn't empower it to investigate the case as per provisions of CrPC, as there was no FIR registered in this case. Gujarat High Court has issued notices to the State government and all SIT members and asked to file a reply by June 16.

The Supreme Court had last month ordered SIT to probe within three months a complaint made by ex-MP Ehsaan Jaffrey's widow Zakia Jaffrey that Modi, his cabinet colleagues, police officials and senior bureaucrats aided and abetted post-Godhra riots of 2002.

"The Apex Court has said in its order to probe the complaint as per law and that is what we are doing. The petition filed in the High Court have raised some frivolous issues. We will be submitting reply in the court soon," they added.