Additional Director-General Of Police R.B. Sreekumar, who has over the last two years caused much embarrassment to the Narendra Modi government over its handling of the post-Godhra riots, may have just fired his most damaging salvo so far. He has appended to his petition to the CAT and to his third affidavit before riots commission a typed version of his personal register on the verbal instructions issued by government top brass during his tenure as the state intelligence chief. Sreekumar, who had headed CID (intelligence) from April 9, 2002, to September 17, 2002, has consistently punctured the government’s stand on the riots. In his first affidavit on July 15, 2002, he had said the government was aware of the movement of kar sevaks from Ayodhya. This was contrary to the government version. In his deposition before the commission on August 31, 2004, he said the police force had been pressurised by political leaders into not registering riot offences and going easy on riot accused. Sreekumar was always in the habit of maintaining a personal record of the instructions. ‘‘Being an old intelligence man, this is his style of functioning,’’ said a senior police officer. Excerpts: • April 16, 2002: The Chief Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, called a meeting of DGP, myself, Shri P K Mishra, Principal Secretary to CM, Shri Sharma OSD to CM, etc. The CM told me that certain Congress leaders, particularly, Shri Shankarsinh Vaghela, former chief minister, is responsible for the continuing communal incidents in Ahmedabad city. I responded that we (State IB) do not have any information to this effect. Thereupon the CM asked me to start tapping the telephone of Shri Shankarsinh Vaghela. I replied that it will not be legal and ethical as we have no inputs about Shri Shankarsinh’s involvement in any criminal activity or instigation of communal violence or ceation of tension between communities. Shri P K Mishra, Principal Secretary to CM, also persuaded me for phone tapping of Shankarsinh Vaghela. I refused his personal demands/entreaties also on legal and moral grounds: The CM instructions being illegal and immoral not complied with. • June 7, 2002: Dr P K Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, asked me to find out as to which is the minister in the Modi cabinet, who met a private inquiry commission in which retired Supreme Court justice Shri V R Krishna Iyer was also present. Dr P K Mishra added that Shri Harenbhai Pandya, MoS Revenue, is suspected to be the minister involved in the matter. Thereafter, he gave one mobile number 98240-30629 and asked for getting call details. • June 12, 2002: Informed Dr P K Mishra that the Minister of State who is suspected to have met the private inquiry commission (Justice V R Krishna Iyer) is known to be Mr Haren Pandya, MoS Revenue. I also informed that the matter cannot repeat cannot be given in writing as this issue is quite sensitive and not connected with the charter of duties given to State Intelligence Bureau vide Bombay Police Manual Vol. III Rule 461. The call details of this mobile number 98240-30629 was handed over to him through Shri O P Mathur, IGP (Admn Security) in our office. It is learnt that telephone number 98240-30629 is the mobile number of Shri Harenbhai Pandya, MoS Revenue. • July 26, 2002: The Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi called me for discussion at his chamber at 4.30 pm. He asked me to provide a daily report about the movement, activities, contacts, etc of Shri Shankarsinh Vaghela, newly appointed GPCC President. I responded that we cannot do any offensive intelligence converage of a political leader. But I informed him that State Intelligence Bureau will collect relevant intelligence regarding political developments having a bearing on law and order situation. PART-II
