Rejecting the CBI report seeking closure of a 1984 anti-Sikh riot case against former Union Minister and Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, a Delhi court on Tuesday directed the investigating agency to reinvestigate the case in the light of the recent statement of a US-based witness.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sanjiv Jain said, “I am of the opinion that the matter needs to be further investigated. The CBI is directed to further investigate the case and submit its report by January 16 next year."

The CBI had filed a closure report before the court on September 29 seeking permission of the court for discharging Tytler of the complaint. The report claimed that one Jasbir Singh had allegedly heard Tytler inciting a mob to kill Sikhs after the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1984 but his whereabouts could not be located. The CBI said that Singh could not be examined as he fled to the US.

An advocate appearing for Mr Singh submitted that he had been staying in the US and prepared to depose in the case. He said the CBI never tried to contact him despite having his address in India. Mr Singh allegedly said that Tytler had instigated the crowd to kill the Sikhs to take revenge of the Mrs Gandhi's assassination.  

He said the mob set fire to the Gurdwara Pulbangash at North Delhi in his constituency in which 3 persons were killed. The case was investigated by the CBI following the affidavit submitted before the Justice Nanavati commission.