Govt scrutinising evidence in 1992-93 Mumbai riots cases

Mumbai, Jan 30 (UNI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil today said the Law and Judiciary department is in the process of scrutinising evidence in all the 539 cases pertaining to the 1992-93 Mumbai riots.

''If sufficient evidence is found to go in appeal against the accused including politicians and policemen who have been let off, the State government would definitely submit the cases to the fast track courts,'' Mr Patil told reporters here.

He rejected reports in a section of the media that the government had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court that appeals against acquittal of Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray and other Sena leaders was not possible as it could revive communal tensions.

The affidavit had been filed as per the recommendations of the Srikrishna Commission and directives of the Supreme Court.

''There is no mention of possibility of communal tension in the affidavit,'' he said.

To a question whether the government feared communal tension if cases were re-opened against Sena leaders, Mr Patil said, ''I do not think so. I am confident that every law-abiding citizen will co-operate with the government machinery.'' UNI MR MAZ JT AS1911