Sanjiv Bhatt quizzing: Gujarat high court to give a common order

A bench of the Gujarat high court will deliver a common order on the issue of questioning of IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt and former Gujarat minister of state for home, Gordhan Zadafia.

The bench headed by Chief Justice SJ Mukhopadhaya was hearing a petition filed by Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (JUH) challenging the order of Nanavati-Mehta commission which had refused to strike off Bhatt's testimony.

Earlier, the JUH had argued before the commission that as per the Commission of Inquiry Act-1952, Bhatt was not a witness and his earlier testimonies should be struck off. But the commission had rejected the Jamiat's plea.

During the hearing, the chief justice commented on the unusual delay in Nanavati-Mehta commission filing its final probe report on the riots of 2002.

The Jan Sangharsh Manch, an NGO representing some riot victims, had earlier filed a petition seeking the cross-examination of Gordhan Zadafia. The petition is pending before the high court.
Zadafia, who was minister of state for home in 2002, was summoned by the commission and questioned in-camera. JSM has filed its petition seeking Zadafia's cross-examination.