1984 riots case 5 witnesses examined: CBI
15 May 2008 Hindustantimes Chandigarh Pg 06
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THE CBI today claimed before a Delhi court that it had examined five witnesses and a few documents in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case allegedly involving former Union minister Jagdish Tytler.
Filing a status report in a sealed cover before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sanjiv Jain, the probe agency claimed that it had examined five witnesses and four documents, besides some video cassettes and CDs.
It, however, refused to reveal the names of the witnesses, apprehending threat to them.
Meanwhile, an application seeking a copy of the status report by senior counsel H.S. Phoolka on behalf of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee and November '84 Carnage Justice Committee was rejected by the court.
"Since the matter is under investigation and the issue of witness Jasbir Singh is pending before the High Court, I do not deem it fit to supply the copy of status report," the court said, posting the matter for September 3.
Counsel for the probe agency opposed the plea seeking copy of the status report, saying that it would not like to reveal the names of the witnesses due to threat perception.
Earlier, making an interjection, Sattu Singh, father of Jasbir Singh, sought the court's intervention by directing the CBI to record his son's statement through video conferencing.
The court, however, refused to pass any order, reminding him of an application by his counsel in this regard before the Delhi High Court, which has been posted for hearing on August 26.
The CBI had on September 29 last year sought to close the case against former Union minister Tytler, declaring Jasbir Singh, an alleged key witness who is settled in California, as untraced.
The CBI had been asked on December 19 to file its report under Section 173 of the CrPC after Jasbir Singh surfaced, expressing his willingness to depose against Tytler.
Jasbir had, however, expressed his inability to come to the country citing threat to his life.
The case relates to an incident on November 1, 1984, when a mob had set afire Gurdwara Pulbangash killing three persons.
Jasbir had told the Nanavati Commission on August 31, 2000, that "he had overheard Tytler rebuking his men on the night of November 3, 1984...for nominal killing of Sikhs in his constituency ."
A matter related to his testimony is pending before the Delhi High Court. Jasbir had earlier expressed his inability to come to the country for recording his testimony and had expressed his willingness to record his testimony through video-conferencing.
