New Delhi:
A sealed report handed to the Supreme Court on Friday evening presents its verdict on some of the most severe allegations that Narendra Modi faces about his role in the Gujarat riots of 2002.
The report deals with the complaint filed against the Gujarat Chief Minister by Zakia Jafri, whose husband, Ehsan, was burnt alive in the communal riots at Gulbarg Society in Ahmedabad in February 2002.
In a case filed in the Supreme Court in 2006, Zakia said that Modi, along with 62 bureaucrats, police officers and senior ministers, conspired to ensure that those being targeted in the riots did not receive any assistance.
In 2008, the Supreme Court asked a Special Investigating Team (SIT), headed by former CBI Director RK Raghavan, to investigate Zakia's complaint. In March this year, Modi was summoned by the SIT and questioned for eight hours about Zakia's charges.
Ehsan Jaffri, a former Congress MP, was among nearly 70 people who died in Gulbarg Society, which was one of the worst-affected areas during the riots. In the minutes before he was set on fire, Jaffri was on the phone, allegedly trying to convince senior bureaucrats and policemen to send help.
Zakiya alleged: ''Narendra Modi had issued instructions to the police and security establishments to remain inactive and allow a free run to rioters. That's why the police didn't act.''
The Gulbarg Society massacre: What happened
On February 28, 2002, a mob started gathering outside Gulbarg Society at 9 am. It began shouting slogans.
At noon, the mob began attacking residents.
Former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri tried to shelter people against the mob.
An eyewitness has testified in court that Jafri repeatedly called Chief Minister Narendra Modi for help. The same eyewitness says that Modi refused to help Jafri, and allegedly abused him on the phone. Jafri phoned 200 other people, including cops and bureaucrats, for help. Senior police officers allegedly refused to respond.
In the afternoon, a mob went into Jafri's house and set him on fire in front of his family.
Other people in the colony were then killed.
By the evening, 69 people had died.