Guj govt tells court it can't give details of Nanavati report

The Gujarat government today told a trial court here that it cannot furnish details from the Justice Nanavati Commission report on the 2002 riots as it is yet to be tabled in the Assembly.
Special judge for SIT cases, P B Desai, had issued a summons to the home department, seeking statements of some witnesses before the commission, on an application filed by Pradyumn Patel, one of the accused in the Naroda Gam riot case.
Patel had claimed that the Nanavati Commission had given him a clean chit, holding that he was not present at the site of massacre at Naroda Gam on February 28, 2002 in which 11 Muslims were killed.

Naroda Gam massacre is one of the nine major riot cases investigated by the Supreme Court-appointed special investigation team (SIT).
The home department official, however, told the court today that he cannot produce the commission's report in the court, as it is yet to be placed before the state Assembly.
The report had been submitted three years ago.

Meanwhile, peeved over some of the accused not attending the proceedings, the court today issued them notices.
Judge Desai warned that if they didn't remain present at the next hearing on Friday, he will issue non-bailable arrest warrants.
Of the 75 accused who are on bail, some 25 accused, including former BJP MLA Maya Kodnani, were not present today. Many accused including Kodnani often skip the hearings.

The court said if the accused want exemption from attendance due to ill-health, they must produce medical certificates.
The Naroda Gam massacre followed a bandh call given to protest the Godhra train burning incident of February 27, 2002. A total of 82 people, including Kodnani, are facing trial in the case.