The Kodnani issue was reportedly discussed at a meeting of state BJP leaders convened at the official residence of Chief Minister Narendra Modi in Gandhinagar on Monday evening to take stock of the party’s prospects in the state in the coming Lok Sabha elections. During the meeting, it was decided to defend the “absconding” minister, sources said.

On Tuesday, government spokesman and Health Minister Jay Narayan Vyas told mediapersons that “if the SIT is keen to arrest Kodnani, it should first file a chargesheet against her for her alleged involvement in the Naroda Patiya and Naroda Gam massacres during the 2002 riots”.

Vyas said since the legal procedure was still on in the case, there was no question of Kodnani resigning from the ministry. “The SIT officers are not saying anything to the media on record, and if they believe that they have enough evidence against Kodnani, they should file a chargesheet against her,” he said.

Vyas added that the issue had not tarnished the image of the present dispensation in Gujarat, and that “our ministerial colleague is innocent until the charges levelled against her are proved in the court of law”.