New Delhi: The Supreme Court has not taken IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt's affidavit, implicating Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the 2002 Gujarat riots case, on record. However, sources say that Amicus Curae (friend of court) Raju Ramachandran will call upon Bhatt to examine him.
Bhatt, a 47-year-old police officer, who is currently heading the State Reserve Police Training Centre at Junagadh, has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court accusing Modi, and also casting doubts about the functioning of the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the riots that followed the February 27, 2002 train burning.
In his affidavit, Bhatt clearly stated that it was during this tenure that he was summoned along with other senior officials and told to lie low as emotions were running high among Hindus following the burning of two coaches of the Sabarmati Express at Godhra, in which 59 Hindus, mostly Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), activists were killed. The activists were returning to Gujarat from Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh.
Bhatt in his affidavit has also accused the SC-appointed SIT of 'coercing witnesses', 'hostility', 'cover-up of probe' and 'displaying reluctant attitude' in recording of vital information related to the 2002 communal clashes that reportedly claimed 2000 lives.
The apext court on Thursday directed the SIT to furnish all its report regarding the post-Godhra riots to the Amicus Curae Raju Ramachandran.
"Amicus will have access to all the statements of the witnesses and he can also interact with witnesses, including police officers," Supreme Court said.
If Raju Ramachandran feels, on the basis of evidence, that any offence is made out, he shall give the names of the offenders in his report to the Supreme Court.
Amicus Curae Raju Ramachandran will submit his report by July 28.
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