Asked why the Special Investigation Team was not acting upon the serious charge levelled by IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had instructed the police to give anti-Muslim rioters a free hand, informed sources told The Hindu that the SIT found there was no corroborative evidence for the officer's claim that he had attended the February 27, 2002, meeting.
Two witnesses sent by Mr. Bhatt to depose about his presence at the meeting “ran away after the SIT grilled them,” the sources claimed, insisting on anonymity.
However, The Hindu on Friday evening spoke with Tarachand Yadav, the police driver who drove Mr. Bhatt around Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar on February 27, 2002. He confirmed that he took the officer to the police headquarters and then accompanied him as he and other officers drove to Mr. Modi's residence, where he stayed till the meeting broke up. Mr. Yadav also confirmed that he had provided this information to the SIT.
