‘Amit Shah rang up to tutor me for SIT session’

Bhatt was summoned by the Commission as a witness following his recent affidavit before the SC in which he had stated that Modi had convened a meeting on the night of February 27,2002,and instructed top officials to allow Hindus to “vent their anger against Muslims”.

In his affidavit,Bhatt had referred to a writ petition before the SC while alleging that top officials of the state government were involved in a cover-up operation following the 2002 riots. He had stated that they had tried to undermine the proceedings of the petition,adding he had provided verifiable details in this regard to the SIT.

Lawyer B M Mangukiya,appearing on behalf of the Central Relief Committee and cross-questioning Bhatt before the Commission,asked him to specify as to who tried to undermine the petition. “The Chief Minister of Gujarat,” replied Bhatt. He,however,declined to provide further details,saying the issue was part of his affidavit still pending before the SC.

The writ petition (civil) no. 221 of 2002 was the first-ever petition before the SC relating to the 2002 riots which was filed by three civil rights activists from Ahmedabad – Mallika Sarabhai,Indukumar Jani and the late Digant Oza. They had demanded various relief to the kin of the riots’ victims while seeking court’s direction for a free and fair investigation into the riots-related cases. The petition was ultimately clubbed together with other subsequent riots-related petitions,which culminated into the SC appointing an SIT to independently probe nine of the most gruesome carnages during the riots.

In his SC affidavit,Bhatt had also stated that the SIT first called him in November 2009 to appear as a witness. However,he added,the SIT later informed him that the date had been postponed.

“In the meantime,despite my having maintained complete confidentiality regarding the telephonic summons from the SIT,I was approached by a very high-level functionary in the government and was sought to be appropriately briefed prior to my scheduled interaction with SIT,” Bhatt’s affidavit in the SC had said.

On Monday,during the cross-examination,Mangukiya asked Bhatt to name the functionary. Bhatt responded: “The (then) Minister of State (Home) Amit Shah”. Bhatt said Shah had tried to influence him to prevent him from revealing truths related to the riots,but refused to elaborate on the briefing Shah gave him,saying he has already provided all details to the SIT and the Commission could direct the SIT to provide the same. Bhatt’s cross-examination is expected to continue on Tuesday.