JSM wants Modi before Nanavati panel

After Supreme Court ordered a probe into Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s role in 2002 riots, a rights group has once again moved an application before Nanavati-Mehta commission, seeking questioning of Modi.

Jan Sangharsh Manch (JSM) lawyer Mukul Sinha put forth a detailed argument based on evidence provided in affidavits filed by police officers, already before the commission, to build a case against Modi. These mainly include affidavits filed by retired director general of police RB Sreekumar, additional DGP Deepak Swaroop and deputy inspector general of police Rahul Sharma.

State government lawyer Tehmtan Nanavati, asked for adjournment stating that advocate general Kamal Trivedi would defend government on the issue.

The application was first heard by the commission before Justice GT Nanavati and Justice KG Shah, who passed away a year ago. Sinha also reiterated that phone CDs bearing records of calls made during the riots which were submitted to commission as evidence by Sharma, could be valid, going by the fact that Gujarat High Court had used them to cancel anticipatory bails of ex-minister Maya Kodnani and VHP leader Jaideep Patel in the Naroda riots case.

The Nanavati commission, however, has already given a clean chit to Modi in its interim report submitted last year. Sinha submitted a 14-point note right from the irregular’ postmortem conducted on the Godhra carnage victims’ bodies, to their being brought to Ahmedabad by accused Jaideep Patel, the meeting held by Modi on February 27 as submitted by Sreekumar, where he indicated that majority community be allowed to vent its anger, to Sharma’s testimony about no help provided to contain riots.

Citing the 2004 notification widening scope of inquiry by commission, Sinha submitted that there is ample evidence to show that the chief minister and his administration behaved in a manner that could incite violence.

The probe panel will hear this application on June 22.

Source: TOI