HC allows recall of journalist to identify accused

The Gujarat High Court on Thursday allowed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to recall journalist Ashish Khetan,who had done a sting operation and caught some of the accused allegedly confessing of their involvement in the 2002 riot. Justice Akil Kureshi set aside the special court’s ruling not allowing SIT to recall Khetan for identification of some of the accused in the Gulberg massacre case. A couple of months ago,Special Public Prosecutor Ajay Choksi had moved an application to recall Khetan and Special judge B U Joshi had rejected the plea on the ground that it was the time for final arguments,and that witnesses cannot be recalled at this stage. SIT had challenged Judge Joshi’s order in the High Court,contending that it was important to call Khetan as he was the one who had conducted the sting operation in 2007. Those caught in the sting operation were later made accused in the Gulberg massacre case. The sting by Khetan produced video tapes where Babu

Bajrangi and a few others were seen talking about their involvement in the post-Godhra riots,and how they were given a free hand by the local politicians.