1984 anti-Sikh riots: Relief for Jagdish Tytler as CBI says no fresh FIR filed against him

The CBI on Friday told a Delhi court that no fresh FIR has been filed against Jagdish Tytler on allegations of influencing witness and money laundering in connection with the 1984 riots case. The Court fixed 30 July for filing of protest petition by the victim against the CBI’s closure report in the case. [caption id=“attachment_2313424” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Congress leader Jagdish Tytler. AFP[/caption] The reply comes after a Delhi court earlier this month directed the agency to reply on the allegations that Tytler tried to influence a witness in a 1984 anti Sikh riots case in which the agency has filed a closure report. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate S P S Laler sought CBI’s response on the statement recorded by the agency of jailed businessman Abhishek Verma during its further investigation in the riots case. During the hearing, senior advocate HS Phoolka, representing the riots victims, apprised the court that Verma in his statement had told CBI that Tytler had allegedly struck a deal with Surinder Kumar Granthi, who was a prime witness in the case and had deposed against the Congress leader about his involvement in the case. “As per the deal, hefty amount was paid to Surinder (who has died) besides settling his son Narinder Singh abroad. He (Tytler) also told me (Verma) that he had mounted pressure on Narinder who in turn was to pressurize his father Surinder to change his statement in favour of Jagdish Tytler,” Verma had told CBI. Verma had alleged in his statement that in 2010, Tytler had sent Rs 5 crore to his sister who lives in Canada and the money was sent through hawala and when the amount reached the account of a trust, it was frozen by the concerned bank. CBI has also recorded statement of Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan in the case. On the agency’s clean chit to Tytler, Phoolka said that he will file a protest petition against the closure report. The court had earlier said “perusal of records revealed that the cancellation report was also filed earlier as regards accused Jagdish Tytler”. The court had also issued notice to complainant and victim Lakhvinder, whose husband Badal Singh was killed during the riots, on the closure report. CBI had said it has conducted further probe in the case, as directed by a session’s court, and filed a closure report in the matter. In April 2013, CBI was directed by a session’s court to further investigate the case as it set aside its earlier closure report. With PTI inputs