Srikrishna Panel To Question Joshi On Withdrawal Of Thackeray

Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi, who is on the verge of completing two years in office as the head of the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance government, would have to walk a tightrope when he appears before the Srikrishna enquiry commission here this Wednesday.

Joshi, scheduled to depose on Shiv Senas statement of case, would in all likelihood be examined on the reasons for the withdrawal of criminal prosecutions against his mentor and Sena supremo Bal Thackeray in connection with alleged inflammatory speeches made by him.

An indication to this effect was given by Justice B N Srikrishna heading the public enquiry commission into the 1992-93 Mumbai riots, when he passed an order yesterday that before Joshi stepped into the witness box, it was necessary for the state government to produce the file furnishing the reasons for withdrawal of prosecutions.

The judge set the deadline for production of the file at 1400 hours today.

Joshi had signed the Senas statement of case submitted to the commission before he became the Chief Minister.

The judge yesterday observed that the legislature in its wisdom, had ensured that frivolous cases under Section 153A of Indian Penal Code were not lodged against persons by providing specifically that the sanction of the government was necessary.

However, several cases were initiated against Thackeray after sanction was obtained.