1984 anti-Sikh riots: Tytler says CBI gave no reasons for lie detection test

Congress leader Jagdish Tytler on Friday told a Delhi court that CBI has not given any reason in its plea to conduct lie detection test on him in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

Tytler, who did not appear before the court personally, filed an application through his lawyer stating that the CBI plea was a “gross misuse of law” and it was filed with “malafide intention”.

Arms dealer Abhishek Verma, who was also issued notice by the court on the CBI plea, appeared before the court and said he stands by his statement given to the probe agency earlier and was ready to join investigation.

Advocate Maninder Singh, who represented Verma, also said CBI has not given any reason to conduct lie detection test on him and he was ready to record his statement before a magistrate unser section 164 CrPC.

He also sought a week’s time to file his reply on the plea.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Shivali Sharma granted time to Verma to file his reply and listed the matter for February 23 for hearing arguments on CBI’s application.

Senior advocate H S Phoolka, who represented the riot victims, said Tytler had earlier given a statement to the media that he was ready to undergo lie detection test.

The court had on February 8 issued notice to Tytler and Verma on CBI’s plea.

The case pertains to death of three Sikhs in the aftermath of the riots that broke out after the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Tytler has been given a clean chit by CBI thrice in the case but the probe agency has been directed by the court to further investigate the matter.

Verma has made several statements to CBI against the senior Congress leader that he allegedly pressurised witnesses in the case.

During the hearing, Verma told the court he was facing threat and should be given protection.