33 years after anti-Sikh riots, Jagdish Tytler may face lie detector test

Thirty-three years after nearly five thousand Sikhs were killed in riots following the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has moved an application in a
Delhi court to conduct a lie detection test on Congress leader Jagdish Tytler.

Tytler has been told to appear in the Karkardooma Court on Friday at 4 pm so that his consent could be taken for conducting a polygraph test by CBI.

"For the purpose of further investigation, a polygraph test needs to be conducted on the following persons... Hon'ble Court had also mentioned in its order dated 04.12.2015 that a lie detection test may be conducted, if required," said the order.

Narendra Singh Khaira, who was a toddler at the time of the riots in 1984, is the son of the late Surinder Singh, who was a granthi at Gurdwara Pul Bangash in Delhi. He was a witness to three murders in the area on November 1, 1984. Based on his statement, the Nanavati Commission recommended the registration of a case against Tytler for murder and for influencing witnesses.

The latest closure report filed by the CBI in the court in December 2015, cited there was a 'lack of evidence'. This report was challenged and the court directed the probe agency to further investigate claims made by arms dealer Abhishek Verma, who alleged that Tytler paid for Khaira's immigration to Canada. Since then, the CBI has been 'unsuccessfully' trying to trace Khaira.