Godhra riots: Bhatt appears before Nanavati-Mehta commission

Prashant Dayal, TNN | May 16, 2011, 04.00pm IST

AHMEDABAD: Senior IPS officer, Sanjeev Bhatt who appeared before the Nanavati-Mehta commission on Monday, said that he was tight lipped for nine years because he was bound by the oath of secrecy.

Bhatt, an intelligence officer during the post Godhra riots in 2002, was on Monday summoned by the Nanavati-Mehta Commission. The summon came following the affidavit that Bhatt filed before the Supreme Court, indicting chief minister Narendar Modi for the riots.

In his affidavit, Bhatt had claimed that a meeting of senior police officials was held at Chief Minister Narendra Modi's residence and "Modi had said ...This time the situation warranted that the Muslims be taught a lesson to ensure that such incidents do not recur ever again... that the emotions were running very high amongst the Hindus and it was imperative that they be allowed to vent out their anger."

Bhatt also appeared before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the Supreme Court.

On Monday, as he appeared before the Nanavati-Mehta Commission, Bhatt was asked as to why he had remained quiet for nine long years. Bhatt in his reply said, "When we take charge as an IPS, we take oath of secrecy. Unless some commission or inquiry officials summons us, we cannot reveal the facts. In this case, I followed the same procedure. I first spoke about the facts after I was summoned by the SIT."

Bhatt also filed an application before the Commission asking it to get him a copy of the intelligence reports after 2002.

In second half of the hearing he would be cross examined by Jansangarsh Manch Advocate Mukul Sinha, Congress Advocate Hiralal Gupta and also by the government pleader.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Godhra-riots-Bhatt-appears-before-Nanavati-Mehta-commission/articleshow/8366360.cms