Ishrat killing: SIT to ‘read minds’ of flip-flop witnesses

Chairman of the Gujarat High Court-appointed SIT R R Verma told the HC bench of Justices Jayant Patel and Abhilasha Kumari on Friday that experts from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) are scheduled to visit the state on October 19 and 20. Thus the SIT got more time for the probe.

At least six witnesses in the case have retracted their statements recorded by the SIT. Taking a serious view,the court had ordered the SIT chairman to inquire and submit a report if there were any external forces behind the retractions.

The SIT has also submitted a progress report before the court related to the investigation to ascertain genuineness of the encounter. After going through the progress report,the court expressed satisfaction with the probe so far and asked Verma to make sure that the SIT files its final report by November 18.

The court specifically asked the SIT chairman to get expert opinion on the rigor mortis on the bodies of the four persons killed in the encounter to determine the time of their killing. This report will have to be submitted along with the final report.

Earlier,the Magisterial report of S P Tamang had relied heavily on the medical evidence of rigor mortis while giving a conclusion that the encounter was fake.

The court also expressed satisfaction with the probe so far when Gopinath Pillai’s lawyer,Mukul Sinha,expressed dissatisfaction with the time being consumed in the ‘inquiry’. He said that it was not clear if the ‘inquiry’ was conducted to register an FIR or to submit a chargesheet.

Speaking on behalf of the bench,Justice Patel said this was not an inquiry and that it was an investigation. He then said that earlier the investigation was not in correct direction and after Verma took over as the SIT chairman,substantial investigation has been done and that it was nearing end.

Sinha then told the court that they should be provided at least some progress report on the investigation done so far since they were in complete dark about what was happening at the SIT. Justice Patel then said that Sinha could not monitor or dominate the investigation. The bench added that after the submission of the final report,it would go to the concerned court and the petitioner lawyers would be heard by that court on the findings of the final report.

The next hearing will take place on November 21.

Reason for not transferring officers unconvincing: HC

AHMEDABAD: The High Court told the state government during the hearing that the reason cited by the latter for not transferring three officers related to the case from their then postings despite the court’s order was not convincing. The court asked the Advocate General that the government can give some other explanation along with necessary data if they want to do so.

The HC had ordered the government to transfer some officers related to the encounter from their then postings to some other postings.

Following delay,the government had given explanation that the file for the transfer of those officers had remained pending for around four weeks at a minister’s table due to the budget session of the Assembly.