Complicity, tampering evidence: Tytler’s dirt

In his original affidavit, Surinder Singh, head priest of a Gurdwara in north Delhi, alleged that a mob led by Tytler had attacked the place of worship on November 1, 1984.

But in his subsequent affidavit, Surinder Singh said that he had no clue to what was written in the earlier one as he did not know English. He also denied having seen Tytler in the mob that attacked the Gurdwara. The Commission could see through the ploy. It said ‘‘the subsequent affidavit was probably obtained by persuasion or under pressure.’’

The former Supreme Court judge reasoned that if Surinder Singh had ‘‘really not seen Tytler in the mob or if he was not approached by Tytler,’’ he would not have taken the leader’s name in the first place nor would he have had to file the subsequent affidavit.

Another witness cited by the Commission against Tytler is Jasbir Singh, who alleged that he had seen the leader berating his followers after the riots subsided on November 3 for not killing enough Sikhs in his constituency as compared to others in Delhi.

Tytler was alleged to have said that ‘‘there was only nominal killing in his constituency compared to East Delhi, Outer Delhi, etc and it would be difficult for him to stake a claim in future as he had promised a large-scale killing of Sikhs.’’

Besides quoting these two riot victims, the Nanavati Commission referred to the findings against Tytler by a citizens panel that consisted of ‘‘eminent persons of unquestionable integrity’’ and conducted an inquiry shortly after the riots.

Two of the members of the citizens panel, retired diplomat Gurbachan Singh and retired bureaucrat Govind Narain, deposed before the Commission that witnesses had told them about ‘‘participation by H K L Bhagat, Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler’’ in the anti-Sikh riots.

‘‘Relying upon all this material, the Commission considers it safe to record a finding that there is credible evidence against Jagdish Tytler to the effect that very probably he had a hand in organizing attacks on Sikhs. The Commission, therefore, recommends to the Government to look into this aspect and take further action as may be found necessary.’’