Gujarat danseuse activist moves plea to question police officers re 2002 riots

Daily News and Analysis

2002 riots: Social activist moves plea to question IPS officer

Published: Thursday, Jul 14, 2011, 17:29 IST
By DNA Correspondent | Place: Ahmedabad | Agency: DNA

The Nanavati and Mehta enquiry commission will, in a few days, decide on the plea moved by renowned danseuse and social activist, Mallika Sarabhai, seeking permission to cross-examination IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt and retired DGP, RB Sreekumar.

Sarabhai, on Wednesday, moved the plea for permission to question both Bhatt and Sreekumar about chief minister Narendra Modi's alleged intention to 'undermine' the petition she had filed in the Supreme court in 2002 seeking justice for the riot victims.

She was the first to file a petition in the Apex court after the riots. She had demanded that the alleged role of the state government and chief minister Narendra Modi in the communal violence be investigated. She had also sought compensation for the riot victims in her petition that was filed in the Supreme Court on March 31, 2002.

Sarabhai wants to question Bhatt as he had recently stated before the commission that the state government's highest functionary had tried to undermine the petition that she had filed in the Apex court. According to reports, Bhatt had also told the commission that Sreekumar, who was then chief of the state intelligence bureau, was aware of this fact.

Talking to DNA, Sarabhai said: "I had come to the commission to file a petition seeking permission to cross-examine Bhatt and Sreekumar. The commission has told me that it would decide on my plea in a couple of days."

She further said that it was clear from Bhatt's statement that Modi had tried to derail proceedings in the Supreme Court to undermine her petition and had also requested Sreekumar to file an affidavit and clear Modi's name. "I will wait for the commission's order on my petition," she said.

Sanjiv Bhatt had recently filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court stating that on the night of February 27, 2002, Modi had held a meeting of top officers of the state and had instructed them to let Hindus vent their anger and teach Muslims a lesson.

Bhatt was then summoned by the Nanavati commission where he was cross-examined by various parties, including the state government.