1984 anti-Sikh riots: The agony of proving Tytler’s innocence

CBI presents evidence to back its decision to acquit Jagdish Tytler in the case

1984 anti-Sikh riots: The agony of proving Tytler's innocence

CBI presents evidence to back its decision to acquit Jagdish Tytler in the case

The ghost of 1984 anti-Sikh riot is refusing to let the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) rest in peace.

After the top investigation agency gave a clean chit to former Union minister Jagdish Tytler, it is now struggling to gather evidence to justify the closure report of the case.

u00a0
Surinder, who was also one of the eye witnesses to have alleged Tytler's role in the rioting, reverted on his stand by filing two affidavits in 2002 and 2007. The CBI counsel, Sanjay Kumar, while pointing to the three different affidavits, termed Surinder "unreliable." He said, "Surinder remained silent for 17 years and recorded his statement only in 2001 through an affidavit before the Nanawati Commission in which he named Tytler as an accused".

"However, in later affidavits submitted on August 5, 2002, and April 7, 2006, he denied making any allegation against Tytler and said he could not comprehend the contents of the first affidavit as it was in English," Kumar said.

Meanwhile, counsel of the victims HS Phoolka thrashed the CBI's stand on the case. "The CBI, instead of doing its own investigation, is relying upon the materials supplied by the accused," he said. Surinder died in July this year.u00a0u00a0

Loud and clear: Protests against rioteers are regularly organised in the city

The CBI also read out statements by Surinder's relatives and other witnesses to reiterate its stand that Tytler was not part of the rioting mob around gurdwara Pulbangash in north Delhi after the assassination of Indira Gandhi.

The court was hearing the grounds on which the CBI filed a closure report against the charges on Tytler and gave a date for the next hearing in the month of February next year.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels