Ahmedabad, November 30: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the post-Godhra riot cases is likely to give a clean chit to former DGP P C Pande in the Gulberg society massacre, mainly on the basis of the officer’s call records.
An analysis of IPS officer Rahul Sharma’s CDs on phone call records made during the riots — which are a crucial part of investigations — has shown that Pande was not present at Gulberg Society at the time of the massacre, as alleged, according to a senior SIT officer.
Pande visited the society after the riots only when the then DGP K Chakravarti asked him to go there.
Zakia Jafri, wife of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri who was killed in the massacre, in her petition had named 63 persons including CM Narendra Modi responsible for the massacre in which 69 people were killed. She had accused Pande of negligence of duty and conspiracy.
She had alleged that Pande, who was the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner in 2002, had come to meet her husband, who, she said, had called Pande innumerable times on his phone for help.
The senior SIT officer, who did not wish to be named, said Sharma’s CDs had the call data of Pande on the day of the riots and subsequent two days. “Pande’s phone location throughout the day showed that he was at various places in the city. His location mainly showed he was in Ahmedabad Police Commissioner’s office for a long time and later in Sola Civil Hospital late afternoon. His location at Gulberg was found at 7.30pm,” he said.
Sources in SIT said by the time Pande reached Gulberg, the society had been burnt and fire officials were taking out the bodies. The SIT have also based their analysis on the deposition of Zakia, who allegedly has given wavering statements.
–Agencies