Riot accused ask SIT to submit report soon

All 81 accused including former state minister Mayaben Kodnani and VHP leader Jaydeep Patel have submitted an application before the judge SH Vora, hearing the Naroda Gam case, to submit the report of the investigation being carried out by the Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The application was submitted in the court on behalf of accused Anil Patel and others.
The accused in their application have stated that if the SIT has completed the investigation then there is no need to cross examine the accused.

Both the defense counsel and public prosecutors argued in this connection. Public Prosecutor, Nigam Shukla pleaded that SIT has been constituted by the Supreme Court and it has stated that SIT can conduct the investigation even after a chargesheet is filed in the case.

Moreover, under the provision of section 173(8) of CrPC, an investigation can be carried out in a case even after the chargesheet is filed for the same. The court would give its order on Thursday.

Earlier, on October 1, the court had framed charges against 81 people including Kodnani and Patel. The court framed charges on the basis of nine different chargesheets filed by various investigating agencies including the SIT. The judge had also noted that the accused had committed the crime to avenge the Godhra carnage.

Charges have been leveled against the accused for causing disrespect to religious scriptures like Quran, insulting the religion and intentionally hurting religious feelings of the Muslim community and illegally entering the graveyard.

Earlier, on Tuesday, SIT produced documentary evidences in connection with the Narodagam and Naorda-Patia case. In connection with the Narodagam case, 139 documentary evidences were produced, while 141 documentary evidences were produce in the Naroda-Patia case which includes inquest report, post-mortem report and others.