March 15, 2012

Press Release

Following the submissions of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) Report and all documents on he complaint dated 8.6.2006. Advocates for Smt. Zakia Ahsan Jafri argued that denial her a copy of the Report/Chargesheet and all documents collected in evidence now itself would be a violation of both the Supreme Court Order and also a right for fair hearing, a right given under various Statutes and under various judgements of Indian Courts. The SIT had, after a delay of five months filed a partial; report on 8-2-2012 and then on 13-3-2012 filed all relevant documents including Amicus Curiae Raju Ramachandran’s Report. On 9-2-2012 itself the complainant had moved an application stating that the filing of a partial report by the SIT was a non compliance of Paras 8 and 9 of the Supreme Court order dated 12-9-2011.
Submitting an application under Sections 173(2) and others of the CRPC and Sections 72 and 74 of the Evidence Act the Compliant also submitted three letters sent by her and co petitioner Teesta Setalvad of Citizens for Justice and Peace asking for notice and information on the action(s) being taken by SIT. Detailed written arguments were also submitted. (Both Documents attached). The five month delay, the filing of a partial Report as also the deliberate attempts to feed sections of the media with their conclusions made the actions of the Supreme Court appointed SIT suspect and bad in law. (reports in some daily newspapers speculated extensively on the “closure” report of the SIT.

Advocate Mihir Desai argued for Smt Zakia Ahsan Jafri in Metropolitan Magistrate Court No.11 today.

Released BY – Citizens for Peace and Justice