After Sanjiv Bhatt shot a letter expressing his willingness to reveal the truth, all eyes are now set on the Nanavati Commission's response to the letter and whether the riots panel will call the suspended IPS officer as a witness or not.
Bhatt's statement is expected to fill the missing pieces in the jigsaw puzzle surrounding the Godhra riots and clear the air over the role of the chief minister and other ministers during the 2002 riots.
Bhatt had in the past alleged that he has plenty of information, even beyond the February 27 information, and that he would reveal it all to the Nanavati Commission.
In a reply to the letter of activist Mallika Sarabhai to call Bhatt as witness, the suspended officer has expressed his willingness to depose before the commission whenever he is summoned.
Sarabhai had earlier written the Nanavati-Mehta Commission of Inquiry a letter asking the panel to summon suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt for deposition. She had also marked a copy to Saniv Bhatt to which he has agreed. However, the commission is yet to summon him.
"Whenever called for I am ready to depose before the commission. However, I have not yet received any reply or any letter from the commission," Bhatt said.
The buzz in the power corridor and among activists and victims is that Bhatt’s statement would further damage the government.
Bhatt, who was posted as DCP at the state intelligence bureau (SIB) during the riots, had filed an affidavit on April 14 alleging that Modi had instructed officers during a meeting on February 27, 2002 to allow Hindus 'to vent out their anger' during the clashes and that he wanted Muslims to be "taught a lesson".
