Court defers hearing in ’84 anti-Sikh riots case

Senior Counsel H S Phoolka also sought the court to summon the report and opinion of CBI’s DIG and Joint Director following media reports that they had opined that there was enough evidence to proceed against Tytler while the CBI director went against their view and decided to give clean chit to the Congress leader.

CBI counsel A K Srivastava sought time to file their reply to the application,to which the court adjourned the matter.

The court,however,said it would also decide the plea of CBI,which had raised objection to its jurisdiction to decide on its closure report against Tytler,on the next date of hearing.

The CBI had on April nine raised questions about the jurisdiction of the magisterial court to decide on the closure report as it pertained to the offence of murder,a view vehemently opposed by the lawyer representing Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC).

Meanwhile,the court refused to entertain the plea of one Sardar Man Mohan Singh who tried to move a protest petition on CBI’s clean chit to Tytler,claiming himself to be a witness,on strong opposition from CBI as well as DSGMC which claimed he had nothing to do with the case.

“Everything would be done in accordance with the law.

This is a case which was registered on the recommendation of Nanvati Commission,” the court said,rejecting his plea.

Before the commencement of hearing,scores of 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims’ families staged demonstration outside the Karkardooma court building demanding capital punishment for Tytler whose candidature from North-east Delhi Lok Sabha constituency as Congress nominee was withdrawn following wide-spread protests by Sikhs over CBI’s clean chit to him. CBI had on April two sought to close the case against

Tytler,claiming there was no sufficient evidence against him in the case.

Tytler,65,was earlier also given a clean chit by CBI on September 28,2007,after the agency had failed to trace Jasbir Singh,a key witness.