Gujarat government demands rejection of summon applications

Ahmedabad, Feb 21 (UNI) Gujarat government today appealed the Nanavati-Shah Commission, probing the Godhra train carnage and its aftermath, to reject the summon applications of seven persons including Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, before the commission for cross examination, in view of serious doubts on the authenticity and veracity of the compact disc submitted by CBI Officer Rahul Sharma before the commission.

Government Counsel Tehtman Nanavati, who started his reply today, questioned the authenticity of the mobile call data and doubted that the data can be tampered with, as the CD was in the private custody of the officer. He also stated that when the officer had come before the commission for his submission, he had not made any affidavit regarding the CD data.

The counsel said the compact disc, submitted by Mr Sharma, to the commission was not original and was the copy of zipped data from the original CD done by the officer, in his private custody, hence production of zipped version have seriously cast doubt of its authenticity.

Advocate Dr Mukul Sinha, representing Jansangharsh Manch, an NGO told the commission that authenticity question does not arise since the commission had examined the witness Rahul Sharma regarding the CD issue. Since it had been held in Camera, the Advocate demanded the copies of the in Camera deposition of Mr Sharma.

However, Commission Chairman G T Nanavati and Member K G Shah did not raise any objection and ordered to supply the copies of the Camera proceeding of Rahul Sharma to the concerned parties.

Earlier, Advocate Sinha in his submission before the commission had stated that various evidences had come on record regarding the conduct of the Chief Minister, his ministers and officials in their collussion with the rioters.

He said the mobile call data collected and submitted by IPS officer Rahul Sharma before the commission was of great importance as a corroborative evidence and therefore we had analyzed this data in respect of around 43 persons whose names have already been submitted to the commission.

''The compact disc data analysis established that accused persons was in contact with these persons when the incidents are occured in the aftermath of Godhra carnage. We have identified these numbers from the official directory, service providers directory and by personal contacts,'' Advocate Sinha told the commission.

On the basis of the analysis report, Jansangharsh Manch and advocate representing Congress party moved an application before the commission on August 31 last to summon State Chief Minister Narendra Modi, then Home Minister Gordhan Zadaphia, then Health Minister Ashok Bhatt alongwith Omprakash, the then PA to CM, Tanmay Mehta, PA to CM, Sanjay Bhavsar, OSD to CM and R J Sawani, DCP Zone V of Ahmedabad city before the commission for cross examination for their alleged role in the 2002 post godhra riots in the state.

The Commission had then fixed the next hearing of the summon applications issue to February 27.

UNI PVN SR SHB AS1802