Ahmedabad: Proceedings of the Nanavati Commission was on Wednesday deferred till June 8, following the filing of two applications challenging the cross examination of IPS officer Sanjeev Bhatt, contending that the officer was not called as a witness by the panel.
The first application has been filed by Jamiyat Ulam Hind (JUH) which contended that Bhatt was summoned by the Commission by exercising its power under section 5 read with section 4 of the Commission of Inquiry Act, which means that he was called only to get information and not as a witness.
Therefore the Commission can only examine Bhatt for the purpose of getting useful or relevant information, it said.
Since Bhatt was not called as a witness and not asked to depose under oath, his cross examination by other parties appearing before the Commission would be in breach of the provisions of the section 5(2) of the Commission of Inquiry Act, JUH said in the application.
It further said that since Bhatt has not filed any affidavit before the Commission, he cannot be subjected to cross examination by any parties. Also, Bhatt`s affidavit before the Supreme Court cannot be a subject matter of examination by the Commission, it added.
Bhatt also submitted an application today contending that he cannot be cross examined by other parties, including the state government, as the Commission had called him under section 5 of the Commission of Inquiry Act to elicit information from him with regard to the meeting called by Chief Minister Narendra Modi on night of February 27, 2002.
PTI
