The Supreme Court-appointed SIT has told a special court hearing the 2002 Naroda Gam massacre case that BJP chief Amit Shah's statement defending one of the main accused and former Gujarat minister Maya Kodnani is “not believable” and should not be considered.

In September last year, Shah had appeared as a defence witness for Kodnani, who had requested the court to summon him to prove her alibi—that she was present in the Assembly and later at the Sola Civil Hospital on the day the 2002 riots broke out and not at Naroda Gam.

Special Public Prosecutor Gaurang Vyas told Justice MK Dave on Thursday that Shah’s statement defending Kodnani was irrelevant, as it was made after a long delay.

“Shah’s statement is not believable, as none of the other accused mentioned about her presence at the Sola Civil Hospital,” Vyas told the court. The will hear the case on Friday.