Gujarat CM Narendra Modi may appear before SIT today

Just as the hubbub over whether or not Narendra Modi skipped last Sunday’s date with the special investigation team (SIT) is dying down, it appears that he may appear before the SIT on Saturday.

The information was revealed by a source who is apprised of the developments.  

But other sources in the know said that since Modi had requested a deferral of his appearance till April 5, when the petition of Kalu Malivad will be heard in the Supreme Court, the SIT may postpone the hearing accordingly.  As for the Saturday’s meeting, the SIT was laying the ground to record Modi’s statement, the source claimed.

The venue for the meeting, however, had not been decided even till late on Friday.  It is believed that the SIT chief, RK Raghavan, arrived in Ahmedabad on Friday evening. Raghavan held talks with a SIT member, AK Malhotra, to plan for the meeting with Modi, the source said.

“Raghavan will pose questions to Modi while the conversation will be recorded by Malhotra,” the source said.   

A high-profile meeting of the SIT members was held at the SIT office in Gandhinagar on Friday evening. Ashish Bhatia, Shivanand Jha, and investigating officer PK Mall were among those present. Raghavan, however, could not make it to the meeting.

The source said that during the meeting, SIT members prepared a list of questions on the basis of Zakia Jafri’s complaint and the statements of other accused. Piyush Patel, the district superintendent of police, Gandhinagar, said that police security for Modi had not been sought at any place in Gandhinagar.