Date:21/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/21/stories/2007092162891600.htm

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Two CDs existed, admits Gujarat government

Manas Dasgupta

AHMEDABAD: In a major breakthrough to the Jansangharsha Manch’s efforts to expose the hand of political leaders in the 2002 communal riots, the State Government on Thursday admitted before the G. T. Nanavati and K. G. Shah Judicial Inquiry Commission the existence of two compact discs (CDs) containing a list of mobile phone calls.

Government pleader Arvind Pandya, while submitting an affidavit giving details of how the CDs were obtained from the two major mobile service providers in the State, however, told the commission that though the CDs were prepared at the behest of the Crime Branch police, there was no records available with the Government about where the discs had gone.

Mr. Pandya requested the commission to provide copies of the CDs given to it by the former Crime Branch officer and the then Deputy Police Commissioner, Rahul Sharma, presently on deputation with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

On the basis of the numbers available on the CDs justifying the close proximity of some political leaders and police officers to the Naroda-Patiya and Gulberg Society at the time of the carnage on February 28, 2002, the Manch advocate, Mukul Sinha had demanded summoning Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the then Minister of State for Home, Gordhan Jhadafiya, who is now a prominent dissident leader, some Vishwa Hindu Parishad leaders and some senior administrative and police officers for cross-examination.

The Government then, however, opposed summoning Mr. Modi and others denying the existence of the CDs and questioned the authenticity of the copies available with the Manch. The Government’s sudden turn-around on the CDs has surprised many but the Manch sources admitted that it could be a deliberate ploy of the official group to create problems for Mr. Jhadafiya and other dissident BJP leaders and his critics within the VHP.