2002 riots case: SIT summons ex-BJP Gen Secy

The Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) has summoned former Bharatiya Janata Party General Secretary Nalin Bhatt in connection with the 2002 Gulburg society riots case.

"I have been asked to appear before SIT tomorrow (Saturday) as I was the general secretary of BJP during the 2002 riots," Bhatt told PTI.

Zakia, whose husband and former MP Ehsan Jaffrey was killed during the 2002 riots in Gulburg society along with 69 others, has alleged that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, his cabinet colleagues, police officials and senior bureaucrats aided and abetted post-Godhra riots.

In her complaint, she had named 63 persons, including Modi, alleging that they were responsible for riots in Gujarat.

Bhatt's name also appears in the list submitted by Zakia before the SIT.

"As general secretary of BJP in 2002, I had filed affidavit before the Nanavati Commission probing the post-Godhra riots. The Commission had also questioned me for over four hours with regards to the riots," he said.

The SIT has also summoned Modi to appear before it for questioning on March 21.