US based Sikh group seeks probe into Tytler case

New York, April 11: In the wake of a Delhi Court ordering the reopening of a case against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler related to the 1984 anti-Sikh violence, a US based Sikh group would seek a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe.

Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a New York based human rights advocacy group, announced Wednesday it will file a writ petition before Delhi High Court asking it to set up an SIT led by former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Chief Joginder Singh.

The petition will be based on the CBI's conduct of disregarding the material evidence against Tytler and refusing to record the testimony of witnesses which amounts to shielding the accused, it said.

SIT should be asked to investigate and depose former police commissioner Gautam Kaul, close associate of Gandhi family R.K. Dhawan and film star Amitabh Bachchan who according to CBI's closure report were in the company of Tytler Nov 1, 1984 at Teen Murti Bhavan.

SFJ also circulated a joint statement by US based witnesses Resham Singh and Jasbir Singh saying they are willing to appear as witness in any court of law once murder charges are filed against Tytler for his role in killing of Sikhs in November 1984.

In December 2008, a CBI team visited the US to record witness statements regarding Tytler's role in 1984 violence.

However, the team despite being intimated, refused to record the testimony of additional wtnesses, Resham Singh, Chain Singh and Alam Singh who kept waiting outside the Indian Consulates in New York and San Francisco to be called in by the CBI, SFJ said.

In Delhi, Additional Sessions Judge Anuradha Shukla Bajaj Wednesday set aside CBI's closure report which had given Tytler a clean chit, claiming there was no evidence against him.

Tytler is accused of instigating a mob that led to the murder of three men who had taken shelter at the Pul Bangash Gurdwara in north Delhi Nov 1, 1984.

The mob attack was part of violence against Sikhs after the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi Oct 31, 1984.

IANS