MHA to examine all files on Ishrat Jahan case

As BJP turns up the heat on Congress over the Ishrat Jahan fake encounter, the Union home ministry has decided to examine all files related to the case in the wake of fresh controversy in the form of insinuations of interference by the then UPA government by former home secretary G.K. Pillai. Significantly, the move comes days after BJP said that “there should be an inquiry to reveal the truth about those who tried to shield a terrorist”.

Ishrat was killed in an encounter in Gujarat in 2004 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was chief minister of the state. The encounter was later alleged to be fake with the then Intelligence Bureau and state police officials coming under scrutiny of CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation). A top government official said, "All files related to Ishrat are being looked at by the ministry again to analyse and determine whether there were any anomalies.” Sources said that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is tracing all file movement to examine whether any files were missing or whether any dissenting notes were put up by the then joint secretary or home secretary while dealing with the files.

The then Home Secretary, Mr Pillai, has claimed that the decision to revise the affidavit on the encounter case to omit Ishrat’s LeT links was taken at the “political level”, allegedly at the behest of then Home Minister P Chidambaram who claimed that he was not in the loop when the first affidavit was filed. The second affidavit was filed after consulting top law officials. While the then UPA Minister is open to all scrutiny, sources said that the Home Ministry under Rajnath Singh wants to examine the files afresh.

Mr Pillai’s insinuations have stirred a hornet’s nest with allegations and counter allegations flying high among all those in the know at that point in time. Recently, LeT operative, David Headley, said in a Mumbai court that the 19-year-old Mumbra girl was a LeT member, thereby giving more ammo to BJP to take on Congress on the issue. While Headley's statement has no evidential value, the case needs a re-look, said an official.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju issued a statement saying: "It's a tragedy for India that the Congress party is proved to be a sympathiser of terrorists and separatists. The disclosure of facts by former Home Secretary Mr Pillai depicts the true intention and mindset of Congress as to how much the UPA government went out of its way to protect a Lashkar-e-Taiba aide.”