SIT allowed to take voice samples of post-Godhra riot accused

A Special Court today allowed the Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing afresh some of the post-Godhra riot cases, to take voice samples of three accused in the Naroda Patiya case, who were video-taped during a sting operation by Tehelka magazine in 2007.

The Supreme Court-appointed SIT had last month filed an application seeking permission to take voice spectrograph of Babu Bajrangi, Suresh Langdo and Prakash Rathod, accused of rioting at Naroda Patiya here, among the areas worst hit by the communal violence in the wake of Sabarmati train burning.

Designated judge Jyotsna Yagnik, while allowing SIT's application, asked the agency to collect the voice samples and do the voice spectrograph at the earliest. The SIT petition said they wanted to cross-check claims of the journalist who carried out the sting operation.

The operation using a hidden camera caught the trio describing how they carried out the attack along with other leaders of the saffron brigade and politicians, and how they were given free hand by the police.

The probe agency has already recorded the statement of Tehelka reporter Ashish Khaitan, who carried out the sting. Ninety-five persons were killed in Naroda Patiya on February 28, 2002.

SIT had filed chargesheet against over 60 persons in the case, which include former minister in the Narendra Modi government Maya Kodnani.