The court said that PM Modi, as a sitting head of the state government that time, was entitled to immunity.
In dismissing the case filed by human rights group American Justice Centre (AJC) in New York, US District Judge Analisa Torres upheld the US Department of State’s determination regarding immunity for the Indian PM on Wednesday.
AJC filed the lawsuit against Modi on the eve of his visit to the US last year, sources said.
It alleged that PM Modi did not do enough to control riots in his home state in 2002 where over 1,000 people were killed most of them Muslims.
The dismissal of the lawsuit against the Indian PM came ahead of US President Barack Obama’s second visit to India as the chief guest for Republic Day celebrations.