AHMEDABAD, June 7:
A designated court, hearing the 2002 post-Godhra riot case of Naroda Gaam in the city, today gave three more days’ time to a witness and CBI police Inspector to appear before it after he apologised for his absence.
Judge Jyotsna Yagnik today considered the apology tendered by case witness and CBI inspector N S Raju and directed him to appear before the court on June 10.
Yesterday, court had issued bailable warrant against Raju, who had failed to comply with court’s order to remain present before it for his deposition, and then directed him to appear today.
As Raju failed to remain present before the court today too, the judge started dictating the order expressing strong objections about the conduct of CBI officer.
However, half way through the dictation Special Public Prosecutor of the case S C Shah, who had just received a communication from Special Investigation Team (SIT) officer, informed the court that CBI officer has faxed a letter expressing regrets and apologies for his conduct.
“Raju has expressed his regrets and tendered unconditional apologies for not remaining present before the court today and has assured that he will remain present on June 10 if court grants him time,” submitted Shah before the court.
“As witness has tendered unconditional apologies and gave assurance, court should show the magnanimity in the larger interest of the justice and refrain from passing harshest order to issue non-bailable warrant against him,” observed designated judge while granting him the time.
In the aftermath of the train burning incident at Godhra on February 27, 2002, violence had broken out in Naroda Gaam industrial area, where 11 people from the minority community were killed.
Naroda Gaam case is separate from Naroda Patiya case in which the same judge had earlier given her verdict.
Trial is underway against 82 accused including former state minister and BJP leader Maya Kodnanai and VHP leader Dr Jaideep Patel.
Raju was part of the team which investigated the authenticity of CD of a sting operation done by reporter Ashish Khetan of Tehelka, in 2007, in which some of the accused of this case has made extra-judicial confessions.
After the publicity of that sting operation, National Human Rights Commission has directed CBI to probe its authenticity.
The content of that sting operation has been included by the prosecution as an important evidence against the accused.
Earlier this year in February, trial court also examined Khetan, who had carried out the sting operation.
Now court has called Raju for his examination as a prosecution witness with regards to the authenticity of CD, which he had verified through Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) Jaipur. (PTI)
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