Former CBI director, RK Raghavan, has been appointed the new envoy to Cyprus by the Centre’s Narendra Modi government. He will replace Ravi Banger, who’s been made India’s ambassador to Colombia.
Raghavan, who headed the SIT to probe Gujarat’s anti-Muslim genocide, had given Modi clean-chit for his alleged role in the pogrom that killed more than 4,000 people.
His appointment as the envoy to Cyprus was announced by the Ministry of External Affairs in a press release issued on Wednesday.
Raghavan was the CBI director between 1999 and 2001. Post his retirement, he headed the Supreme Court-appointed SIT to investigate major incidents of massacres in Gujarat under Modi as the state’s chief minister.
To everyone’s surprise, he had exonerated Modi from all charges in Gulberg Society massacre case.
Earlier the Modi government had appointed the former Chief Justice of India Sathasivam as Kerala governor after he gave clean chit to the BJP chief Amit Shah in fake encounter case.
His appointment left many on social media angry. Supreme Court lawyer, Prashant Bhushan tweeted, “Time to reward those who helped you in need.”
Here are some other reactions:
India's new High Commissioner to Cyprus, RK Raghavan led a probe, that cleared then Chief Minister Modi in the 2002 riots – The Telegraph pic.twitter.com/MTK8OCMflb
— Ajmer Singh (@iamajmer) August 31, 2017
CJI Sathasivam who gave “clean chit” to @amitshah sent to Kerala as governor. R.K. Raghavan goes to Cyprus as high commissioner. Therefore… pic.twitter.com/KEWEBjG9qK
— churumuri (@churumuri) August 31, 2017
#GujaratModel is very rewarding.
RK Raghavan, former CBI director who headed SIT in Gujarat 2002 riots, will now be Indian envoy to Cyprus.— Deepal. (@deepalMirror) August 31, 2017
Raghavan has bought this position by giving Modi clean chit in 2002 Gujarat riots cases https://t.co/bkVgwVLJ3X via @IndianExpress
— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) August 31, 2017