Nanavati Commission will not cross-examine Gordhan Zadaphia

After refusing to summon former minister of state for home Gordhan Zadaphia, who was MoS during the post-Godhra riots, for cross examination, the Nanavati Commission on Monday issued summons to Zadaphia to clarify his views on the incident.

Sources in the panel said they are preparing the second part of the report. For this, it has sought documents from the Special Investigation Team (SIT). However, after browsing through the documents, the Commission needed some clarification on few evidences collected by SIT. Hence the Commission decided to summon Zadaphia for further clarification. It has thus made it clear that neither it would be a public hearing nor a cross examination of Zadaphia.

However, Jan Sangharsh Manch (JSM), an NGO, had earlier moved an application where it had asked that Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, Ashok Bhatt, Zadaphia and IPS officer RJ Savani, be summoned. The JSM contended that Zadaphia, had admitted before the Supreme Court appointed SIT of making phone calls to few people, who are now accused in the Naroda Patiya riot case. Zadaphia could have revealed many important facts about the riots to the commission, JSM added.

The commission however rejected the application and said that Zadaphia, who has parted ways with BJP and floated his own party, cannot be considered as a witness. He cannot be thus cross-examined.