Supreme Court pulls up Modi over Sohrabuddin remarks

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The Supreme Court asked Narendra Modi on Wednesday to explain why he apparently justified the extra-judicial killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in a campaign speech last week.

The chief minister of Gujarat is already under investigation by the independent Election Commission for his remarks about the staged killing of Sheikh, shot by police on the pretext that he was planning to kill Modi in 2005.

Last week, India's election panel asked Modi to explain his remarks, saying he appeared to have violated its Code of Conduct by fanning communal hatred.

Modi replied by saying he was only responding to a remark by Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi who labelled his government "merchants of death".

Modi is accused of turning a blind eye to or actively encouraging Hindu-Muslim riots in 2002 in which between 1,200 and 2,500 people were killed, most of them Muslims.

He swept the elections held later that year on an overtly communal campaign, and is now facing the electorate again in what analysts say is a close race with Congress.

The Supreme Court said Modi was wrong to comment on Sheikh's killing because the matter was sub-judice. It is also hearing a petition seeking to make him a co-accused in the case.

Modi had asked a campaign rally what should be done with a man who had hidden AK-47 rifles, was wanted by police and had relations with Pakistan.

When the crowd shouted "kill him, kill him", Modi replied: "Does my government need Soniaben's (Sonia Gandhi's) permission for this?"