Ex-DGP files affidavit on alleged misuse of Secret Service Fund

Sreekumar is said to have filed a 63-page ‘confidential’ affidavit,his eighth before the commission.

The issue came to light on May 24 this year during the deposition of IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt before the commission. Bhatt was referring to Writ Petition (Civil) No. 221 of 2002 that was moved before the SC by activists Sarabhai,Indukumar Jani and late Digant Oza after the riots.

It was the first litigation before the SC with reference to the riots where the petitioners had demanded several reliefs for the victims while seeking direction for a free and fair investigation of the riots cases and compensation for the victims. The petition was eventually merged with other subsequent petitions related to the riots,which culminated into the SC appointing an Special Investigation Team to further probe into the nine most gruesome cases.

Bhatt had told the commission that the state government was undermining the proceedings of the petition at the SC and held Chief Minister Narendra Modi directly responsible for the same. He also hinted that his then boss Sreekumar knew about it. He went on to say that some people present in the courtroom were also involved in this subverting process.

Following Bhatt’s disclosure on the petition,Sarabhai had moved an application to let her or her lawyer cross-examine Bhatt to know further details on the alleged misuse of the SSF. The commission had subsequently asked Sreekumar to file an affidavit on the issue.