Ahmedabad:
In a startling revelation, the Gujarat government has admitted to the Nanavati Commission, probing the 2002 post-Godhra riots, that key records during the riots were destroyed five years later.
The revelation came during the cross-examination of senior police officer Sanjiv Bhatt today after which the state government's counsel, SB Vakil, said that Mr Bhatt knew that these crucial documents were missing and is trying to capitalise on the fact by claiming that he was present at a key meeting with Chief Minister Narendra Modi on February 27, 2002.
The statement is being seen as a cover-up on the part of the Modi government.
The riot victims' counsel has termed this as serious development since a large number of riot cases were under judicial process at that point.
Mr Bhatt had told the Nanavati Commission last month that when he told the Chief Minister about the police refusing to help those who were being attacked during the riots, Mr Modi did not act on his information.
Mr Bhatt also filed an affidavit with the Supreme Court that on February 27 2002, a day after 59 kar sevaks died when the Sabarmati Express was set on fire at Godhra, he was present at a meeting of police officers where Mr Modi asked police officers to be indifferent to rioters. Mr Bhatt claims that though he shared this information with a Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the court to examine the riots, he was ignored.
Several Gujarat police officers who were present at this meeting have, however, denied that Mr Bhatt was in attendance.