Re-open Haren Pandya case as done in Jessica: Modhwadia

Gandhinagar, June 28 (UNI) Leader of the Opposition in Gujarat Assembly Arjunbhai Modhwadia today urged Chief Minister Narendra Modi to implead the state government as a party in the Haren Pandya case, as demanded by deceased Pandya's family, on the same lines of the Jessica Lal case.

The state government must support the demand made by Pandya's wife Jagrutiben Pandya and his father Vitthalbhai Pandya for re-investigation, Mr Modhwadia said.

Addressing mediapersons here, he said the family members of Haren Pandya, in a written application, had demanded for recording their statements. However, no such statements had been recorded, he added.

He said further investigation should be made in the matter as the family members had informed about main conspirators like certain anti-social elements of Gujarat and Saurashtra and some political leaders.

Even in the present investigation, the investigating agency had not succeeded in establishing the motive behind the murder.

In these circumstances, Mr Modi must instruct the government to join as a party to the demand raised by the family members for re-investigation, he said.

Mr Modhwadia said during the process of investigation, several issues had remained unanswered. Forensic expert Dr M Narayana Reddy, Head of the Forensic Science Department in Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad, had stated under oath that the five injuries out of the seven sustained by late Pandya were such that they could not have been inflicted by firing through a narrow space of glass of Maruti car of the rear right side seat.

''Pandya was shot at in the left scrotum, in which case the bullet travels to the upper part of the body. Such type of injury can be suffered by a person shot from the backside and if he is in standing position or bending,'' he claimed.

''However, in the FIR, it was recorded that Pandya was sitting in the car. Such an injury cannot have been suffered by a person who is sitting in such a position. From this report itself, it can be established that murder had occurred at some other place and his body was later planted in the car, he claimed.

Investigating Officers had not explained these issues satisfactorily. It was surprising that there was no blood stains on the seat of the car.

''Pandya was killed at about 0700 hrs on March 26, 2003, in Law Garden area, which is crowded and there is a police station nearby.

If so, why did the police reach the spot only at 0900 hrs? Mr Modhwadia said.

The investigation was carried out by then head of the CID (Crime) D G Vanzara, accused in the 2005 fake encounter case, and it was followed by the CBI. At that time, the Home Department was headed by Vanzara's political mentor L K Advani.

UNI