Tushar Gandhi seeks to intervene into plea relating to Mahatma's killing

Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, on Monday approached the Supreme Court to oppose a plea for re-investigation into the conspiracy behind the assassination of the father of the nation on January 30, 1948.

A bench of Justices S A Bobde and M M Shantanagoudar questioned the locus of Gandhi as his counsel senior advocate Indira Jaising sought to intervene into the matter.

Indira said she would explain the locus before the bench if and when the court decides to issue a notice in the matter.

Senior advocate Amrendra Sharan, amicus curiae, sought adjournment on the grounds that he was yet to receive voluminous records from the National Archive of India related to the trial.

The bench said there were several ifs and buts in the case and would like to wait for a report from the amicus curiae.

The court put the plea filed by Mumbai-based Dr Pankaj Phadnis, a researcher and trustee of Abhinav Bharat, for consideration after eight weeks.

The petitioner challenged a Bombay High Court's June 6, 2016, order that dismissed the plea for the appointment of a commission of inquiry to probe afresh the conspiracy behind the killing of Mahatma Gandhi.