Date:09/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/09/stories/2008060950920700.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Ex-SIT chief lauds Priyanka

N. Rahul

“Jail visit shows her moral courage”

The visit is purely her private affair: D.R. Karthikeyan
Says he ‘received’ threats during Rajiv murder probe

HYDERABAD: D.R. Karthikeyan, former chief of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which cracked the Rajiv Gandhi assassination probe, has defended the visit of Priyanka Gandhi to Vellore jail to call on one of her father’s assassins — Nalini and said the visit in no way altered the legal course in the case.

He said here on Sunday that he admired Ms. Gandhi for the enormous moral courage that she displayed in meeting Nalini. At the same time, he also said: “Whether it [the visit] is right or wrong is not our business as it is purely her private affair.”

Mr. Karthikeyan was speaking at a function to mark the release of the Telugu version of his book “Triumph of Truth” which took a peep into the investigation into the assassination. He observed that Ms. Gandhi probably tried to come to terms with the tragedy that struck her by talking it out with Nalini. Otherwise, how long could she live with pain and anger. She had also infused forgiveness in the tragedy.It was ‘moral courage’ indeed shown by a young woman with two children.

Evidence

He said the evidence that was collected in the investigation of the assassination was preserved. It would be used against the three prime accused who were yet to be brought to book, including the Liberation Tigers of Teelam Eelam (LTTE) supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran.

He said he headed the probe despite threats to his life and family. He learnt about the threats from interceptions of wireless communication wanting to know about his background.