Examine me, Modi and ex-DGP jointly: Bhatt to riot panel
Suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt today sought his joint examination with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and ex-DGP R B Sreekumar before the Nanavati Commission in connection with the alleged undermining of judicial proceedings related to 2002 riots.
In a letter to the two-member judicial panel, Bhatt said, "in addition to my deposition before the Commission, the latest affidavit of Sreekumar also clearly refers to the direct role of Narendra Modi in undermining judicial process connected with the Gujarat riots of 2002."
Bhatt, during his deposition before the Commission in May this year, had alleged that Modi tried to undermine the proceeding in a petition filed by social activist Mallika Sarabhai in Supreme Court with regard to the riots.
"It would, therefore, be entirely appropriate and in the interest of justice that Narendra Modi, R B Sreekumar and the undersigned (Bhatt) are jointly examined on oath by this Commission," the senior IPS officer said in his letter.
He said the alleged incident is squarely covered by the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the Commission, which is probing the post-Godhra communal violence in the state. "This would help in bringing out the truth with respect to a number of issues connected with the orchestration of the riots as well as the administrative complicity and connivance, not only in the carnage but also in the subsequent cover-up operations executed during the time-period covered under ToR of the Commission," Bhatt further stated.
The controversial police officer has sent copies of the letter to Modi, Sreekumar and Sarabhai.
