The Centre told the Supreme Court on Friday that out of 293 cases relating to the anti-Sikh riots, a high-powered Special Investigation Team has closed investigation into 199 cases while in a separate set of 263 cases, files were untraceable. To probe deeper into the truth behind these claims, the Apex Court directed the Ministry of Home Affairs, which has constituted the SIT, to produce all the records relating to the 199 cases before the Court on April 25.
The Bench of Justices Dipak Misra, AM Khanwilkar and MM Shantanagouder said that only after ascertaining the reasons for closing investigation will the Court consider the demand raised in a PIl for a judicial probe into the 1984 Delhi riots.
The PIl filed by one S Gurlad Singh Kahlon said there was no transparency with regard to the functioning of the SIT and the fact that 199 out of 293 cases dealt by SIT had been closed raising suspicions on the manner in which cases were being given a burial even before they can be filed in Court.
Senior advocate Arvind Datar, who appeared for the petitioner, submitted that as per a previous report submitted by SIT, only 59 cases were found fit for further probe. Of them, 38 cases were closed after conducting probe and the entire exercise yielded in only four chargesheets. In 17 cases, investigation is still pending. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi who appeared for the Centre said that SIT is looking into the matter and is expected to submit its final report before August 11.