Thaindian News

Gandhinagar, June 27 (IANS) Social networking site Facebook Monday figured in the proceedings of a commission probing the 2002 Gujarat communal riots. The panel, however, decided to put in abeyance a plea seeking permission for examining a police officer over his posts on the site.

The Nanavaty-Mehta Commission, consisting of Justice G.T. Nanavati and Justice Akshay H. Mehta, was approached by the Rashtriya Surksha Sangh to allow cross-examination of Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Sanjeev Bhatt, who accused Chief Minister Narendra Modi of complicity during the riots, over ‘postings’ on his Facebook account.

Advocate Chetan Shah, founder of the sangh, appealed to the commission for permission to cross-examine Bhatt.

“Looking at the writings in the Facebook account of Bhatt, it seems he is acting at the behest of Congress leaders and social activist Teesta Setalvad with malafide intentions,” Shah said.

Justice Nanavaty initially refused to entertain the plea by saying that posts on Facebook were a personal affair of Bhatt and these could not be considered as evidence. He also showed annoyance over the plea.

When Shah kept reiterating that the commission should allow him to cross-examine Bhatt, the commission told Shah that it would keep his plea in abeyance and will use it, if necessary.

The commission also adjourned till Wednesday hearing on a plea by the Congress seeking documents related to the riots.