Gujarat riots panel to quiz former minister
By IANSWednesday, October 13, 2010
AHMEDABAD - In a surprise move, a panel probing the 2002 post-Godhara riots in Gujarat Wednesday decided to summon former minister of state for home Gordhan Jhadapia for in-camera questioning Oct 20.
The Nanavaty-Mehta commission, consisting of Justice G.T. Nanavati and Justice Akshay H. Mehta, had earlier turned down a plea for summoning Jhadapia.
The panel has not only decided to question the former minister in camera but has not even informed the Jan Sangharsh Manch (JSM), which represents the riot victims before the probe panel, counsel for the victims said.
JSM counsel Mukul Sinha said he intended to challenge the commission’s move to summon Jhadapia “in my absence and behind my back” in the Gujarat High Court Thursday.
He said he will seek to restrain the commission from going ahead with the questioning of the former minister.
According to sources, the commission decided to summon Jhadapia on the basis of new information collected by the Supreme Court-appointed special investigation team (SIT) probing into the 2002 riot cases.
