Narendra Modi and Haren Pandya: The Controversial Accusations and the Aftermath

The Accusations

In 2003, Haren Pandya, a prominent member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and former Gujarat home minister, was killed in Ahmedabad. At the time of the incident, Narendra Modi, then the chief minister of Gujarat, was accused of orchestrating or at least failing to prevent the murder. These accusations were compounded by Pandya’s deep political rivalry with Modi and Pandya’s public testimony regarding the riots that occurred in Gujarat in 2002.

Role in the Investigation and Legal Proceedings

The high court's acquittals in 2011 were a significant setback for the prosecution, questioning the integrity of the investigation. Following this, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the state government led by Modi challenged the verdict in the Supreme Court. The CBI investigation was led by YC Modi, an officer who later became the head of the National Investigation Agency in 2017 under the Modi government. The Supreme Court also heard public-interest litigation from the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) regarding potential involvement of police officers in the murder.

Testimony and New Evidence

In 2017, Azam Khan, a key witness in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, testified that Sohrabuddin had mentioned that he, along with his associates, was hired to kill Haren Pandya. This testimony implicated Deputy Inspector-General of Gujarat Police, DG Vanzara, in the conspiracy to kill Pandya. Vanzara has a history of being involved in multiple cases of extra-judicial killings under Modi’s watch.

The Polynomial Political Feud

The relationship between Haren Pandya and Modi was fraught with tensions and political maneuvers. In 2001, Pandya refused to vacate his seat for Modi, complicating his political ambitions. In 2002, following the riots, Pandya secretly gave a deposition to an independent fact-finding panel, which Modi was unable to access. This led to Pandya being disciplined and later forced to resign from the cabinet.

Sustained Vengeance and Later Investigations

The tension between Pandya and Modi continued, with Modi's state intelligence unit tracking Pandya's movements closely. After Pandya’s murder, the investigation was carried out by the Gujarat police, and later handed over to the CBI. Key figures like Vanzara and Abhay Chudasama, both implicated in various other cases, were involved in the investigation. This case underscores the complex political dynamics and the potential for retribution in the aftermath of political conflicts.

Keywords: Narendra Modi, Haren Pandya, Gujarat riots