New Delhi, India (February 12, 2011): In a new development, that has been termed as major legal victory for the victims of November 1984 Sikh genocide, on February 10, 2011 Additional Sessions Judge Ms. Sareeta Birbal has ordered CBI to provide evidence to the victims in Jagdish Tytler’s case. Allowing the petitioner’s application the court has ordered CBI to provide to the petitioner the copies of the 5 CDs relied upon by the CBI in dropping the charges against Jagdish Tytler. The next date has been fixed by the court for March 7, 2011 for supply of CDs to the petitioner.
The case pertains to the revision petition filed on May 29, 2010 on behalf of petitioner Lakhwinder Kaur challenging the order of Additional Chief Metropoliton Magistrate Rakesh Pandit acquitting Jagdish Tytler on April 27, 2010.
On July 24, 2010, CBI acting as the defense team for Jagdish Tytler like always had claimed that the role of Jagdish Tytler was investigated from all possible angles including the possibility of his being involved in conspiracy behind the incident.
On August 21, 2010, the court ordered CBI to file a detailed reply to the application filed by Lakhwinder Kaur to inspect documents relied upon by the probe agency in giving clean chit to Jagdish Tytler for his involvement in November 1984 Sikh Genocide.
On January 22, 2011, February 4, 2011, February 8, 2011, Additional Session Judge VK Khanna, Karkardoma court Delhi, heard the arguments advanced by Sikhs For Justice Chief counsel Navkiran Singh and Counsel Kamna Vohra. Sikhs for Justice chief counsel Navkiran Singh stated that this is an important development and now he is hopeful that by inspecting the records the case against Jagdish Tytler would be reopened. He stated that the revision petition had been filed on the ground that there is clear evidence of Criminal Conspiracy against Jagdish Tytler which has been overlooked in this case.
Attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun Legal Advisor Sikhs For Justice stated that in November 1984 Jagdish Tytler openly supported the perpetrators of the massacre and as reported by the People’s Union for Democratic Rights and People’s Union for Civil Liberties in their Joint Inquiry report “who are the Guilty”, on November 6, 1984 barged into the office of the then police Commissioner S.C. Tandon while he was holding a press conference to demand the release of his men who were detained by the police for perpetrating the massacre. He further stated that the CBI had ignored material witnesses including witness Resham Singh, Alam Singh and Chain Singh who saw Jagdish Tytler leading the violent mob at Gurudwara Pulbangash on November 1, 1984.
Attorney Pannun stated that the inspection of documents will bring the truth out and expose the CBI and government’s role in shielding the guilty.