Godhra investigating officer refuses to give statements

Neol Parmar, the investigating officer (IO) of Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Sabarmati train burning incident is yet to submit the case diary before the designated court of judge PR Patel. According to defence advocate, IM Munshi "Producing the case diary is essential part of investigation but so far the investigating officer had failed to do so."

Moreover, the investigating officer during cross examination refused to give statements pleading that he would give the same only after verifying the records and in the presence of senior public prosecutor JM Panchal.

Parmar had also made an application before the designated court in this connection.

The designated court had posted the matter for further hearing in the application on May 13. Munshi further said that Parmar was being cross examined for two days, but he refused to answers defence's questions on the grounds that he needed to verify records while giving the statements. Parmar is also charged with illegally detaining a witness Ilyas Hussain Mulla for giving statements in the case. Mulla had also approached the Supreme Court (SC) demanding protection from the SC-appointed special investigation team (SIT) so that he can depose freely before the trial court.

Mulla has claimed that his father and he were detained for several days by then investigating officers Noel Parmar and JK Bhatt, and also tortured.