Ending suspense over his appearance before the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team probing the 2002 Gujarat riots, Chief Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to present himself before the panel on March 27.
"March 27 is the mutually agreed date on which Modi will appear before the Special Investigation Team," his advocate Mahesh Jethmalani said.
However, Modi told SIT Chief R K Raghavan in a letter that since the hearing on the case is scheduled before the Supreme Court on April 5, it would be "good" if the apex court hears the matter first.
Modi pointed out to the SIT that since the matter, regarding which summons had been issued to him, was pending before the Supreme Court, propriety demands the SC hears it first before he appears for the SIT questioning, Jethmalani said.
He said the chief minister has also written that in case the SIT decides to question him on the mutually agreed date of March 27, he will appear before the panel.
However, SIT Chief R K Raghavan refused to comment on the date.
"It is a privilege communication between the SIT and the witness, and I cannot comment on this," he said.
Confusion prevailed over the appearance of Modi before the SIT with its chief saying he would appear on March 21. But Modi, in an open letter, claimed he was not summoned on that date.
The SIT has summoned Modi to depose in connection with a complaint of Zakia Jaffery, widow of former Congress Member of Parliament Eshan Jaffery, who was killed in Gulburg society riot case of 2002 along with 69 others.
Former Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Legislative Assembly Kalu Maliwad had approached the Supreme Court demanding that the SIT should not be allowed to press the complaint of Zakia Jaffery.
