1984 anti-Sikh riots: CBI files probe report in Delhi court against Tytler

New Delhi: CBI on Wednesday filed a report in a Delhi court on its further probe into a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in which Congress leader Jagdish Tytler was earlier given clean chit for his alleged role.

The report was filed in a sealed cover before link magistrate Rakesh Kumar Singh who fixed its consideration by the concerned court for September 28.

During the hearing, the court rejected CBI prosecutor’s submission seeking a long date on the ground that he was busy in other matters.

“You (prosecutor) have other cases listed in courts is no ground for seeking a long date. Why are you not filing the report as asked by the concerned court earlier,” the magistrate asked.

When the prosecutor said the report was ready and he would file it before the court, the magistrate said, “You file the report now and take the next date when the concerned court hears the matter.”

CBI’s plea seeking a long date was vehemently opposed by H S Phoolka, senior advocate representing riot victims, saying it had sought time thrice for the purpose and the court had given it the last chance at the last hearing on July 11.

The court had given a last chance to CBI to complete its further probe in two months, observing that justice delayed amounted to justice denied.

After the court’s earlier direction, CBI had recently questioned Tytler in connection with the riots case on September 9 when he had answered questions put by the investigating officers.

The court had earlier pulled up the agency for not taking proper steps to complete the probe and had made it clear that if no fruitful results are shown in two months, CBI’s

Superintendent of Police would have to explain. It had also directed CBI to write to the Canadian High Commission for information regarding the case.

The case pertains to the riots at Gurudwara Pulbangash in North Delhi where three people were killed on November 1, 1984, a day after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The court had said it would monitor the probe every two months so that no aspect of the matter is left un-investigated.

CBI had re-investigated the case of killing of Badal Singh, Thakur Singh and Gurcharan Singh near the gurudwara after a court had in December 2007 refused to accept the closure report. CBI had filed three closure reports in it. Tytler has denied any role in the riots.

PTI