Govt said no before SC’s notice on CBI

The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Gujarat government, its Home secretary and the director general of police on a petition seeking a CBI probe into all recent incidences of communal riots, including the Godhra carnage, in the state.

As Advani frowns, DIG says TV report distorted remarks

Port Blair: After Home Minister L.K. Advani expressed surprise over a statement allegedly made by DIG, CID, Rakesh Asthana and reported by a TV channel that the Godhra carnage was not pre-planned, Asthana on Saturday said his comments had been distorted. In a clarification, Asthana said he had mentioned during the interview that the incident could not have taken place without careful pre-planning and conspiracy. —PTI

However, the Centre has already endorsed the Gujarat government’s view that there is no need for a CBI probe. Replying to the NHRC’s preliminary recommendations on Gujarat, the Union Home Ministry reiterated the state‘s view that a CBI probe would only cause ‘‘further delay’’.

Following widespread allegations of biased probes, the NHRC wanted the CBI to probe the killings in Godhra, Gulbarga Society in Chamanpura, Naroda Patiya, Sardarpura in Mehsana and Best Bakery in Vadodara.

The Home Ministry has a ready explanation for supporting the Gujarat government. ‘‘Legally, under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, the jurisdiction of CBI can be extended to another part of the country only when that state government places such a request…In this case, as the state government has stated that there is no need for a CBI probe, the question does not arise.

Now, the Supreme Court Bench has ordered the listing of the latest petition filed by D.N. Pathak and 15 others, along with a PIL filed by Mallika Sarabhai and others who had alleged that the state machinery was biased against the minority community during the recent riots.