Ishrat Jahan: Missing papers were not part of file before affidavit was filed

New Delhi, June 28: The missing documents in the Ishrat Jahan case were never placed in the file which was prepared to submit the second affidavit in the case. An inquiry conducted by the additional secretary (foreigners) in the home ministry of India had recently submitted a report on the missing papers in the Ishrat Jahan case.

The report stated that the files had gone missing between September 18, 2009 and September 24, 2009. It also states that there is possibility that papers went missing during the exchange between the former home secretary (G K Pillai) and the former home minister (P Chidambaram).

During the inquiry the statement of joint secretary, Diptivilasa was recorded. It was found that the file pertaining to the second affidavit had been returned to Diptivilasa on September 24, 2009.

There was an instruction to file the second affidavit. However Diptivilasa told the inquiry that when he had received the file the papers were not in the file.

Prasad notes in his report that the only possibility is that these documents may have been delinked or retained during the movement of the file between the then home secretary and the home minister.

Final report:

The report states that the papers went missing or may have been removed intentionally or unintentionally between September 18 and 28 ,2009.

The one man committee had managed to trace one of the papers recently. The document had been found with the help of technical experts. The one man committee was headed by Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry B K Prasad.

The report states that the papers had gone missing while they were being set from the Home Minister's office to the joint secretary in 2009. The 52 page report also mentions that it had examined 11 officers both retired and serving.

The report also states that one file had been found. The file that has been found is the letter written by the former home secretary, G K Pillai to the then Attorney General (AG) of India. The other files include the letters sent by Pillai to the AG, the draft affidavit vetted by the AG and also the amended draft by Chidambaram. .

There were exchange of notes between the home secretary and the home ministry on this issue. Pillai had on September 23, 2009 sent a note to Chidambaram with regard to the filing of the second affidavit.

A day later Chidambaram responds to the note stating, As amended, please show clear copy before it is sent to court. The charge against the former home minister is that he had not consulted with other officials before making changes.

To Chidambaram's note, Pillai writes back stating that, Clear copy shown to home minister. Please take further action and letters may be sent to law secretary and attorney general for information.

OneIndia News