Sikh group to challenge clean chit to Jagdish Tytler

Angry over a clean chit to Jagdish Tytler in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, a community group here has alleged that the CBI did not investigate material witnesses in the case when its team came to the United States.

The Sikh group based in New York and India, Sikhs for Justice, says there are several witnesses living in the US who had seen the Congress leader inciting mobs in the killings.

Sikhs for Justice, which had originally challenged CBI's closure report in 2007 are now preparing to challenge the Delhi court's decision to acquit Tytler, citing the new witnesses that have still not been heard.

"The CBI did not investigate material witnesses when they came to the United States and they came with the premeditated notion of giving Tytler a clean chit," Gurpatwant Pannun, the lawyer for the Sikhs for Justice, told PTI.

"The CBI should come back and speak to these witnesses who saw what happened," he added, noting that the Sikh group would ask the court to direct the CBI to hear these witnesses.

Resham Singh, who claims he saw Tytler at the Pulbangash Gurudwara standing in front of the mob as black smoke emerged from the shrine, said the CBI officials refused to speak to him when they came to interview the two key witnesses Jasbir Singh and Surinder Singh in San Francisco and New York.

In its decision, the court pointed out that the statement of Jasbir had "no relevance" and that the statements of Surinder Singh were "self-contradictory".

"I'm running after them to be heard... this is absolutely ridiculous," Resham told PTI.

Pannun said the discredited witness Jasbir "is outraged by the court's decision and blames the CBI for yielding to political pressure".

In 2007, when the CBI was about to close the case against Tytler based on the absence of evidence, Jasbir spoke out through the media that he was a living witnesses who could account for Tytler's alleged role.

In the coming weeks, Jasbir intends to appeal the decision that gave Tytler a clean chit and will come to India to testify if it is necessary.

Several potential witnesses here claim that they are scared of being harmed if they speak out about the past.

"I will go anywhere to get justice but they must provide security," Jasbir said.

In April, Sikhs for Justice has also filed a civil suit against transport minister, Kamal Nath, in a New York Federal District for his alleged role in the 1984 killings.