BK Prasad panel report concludes that Ishrat Jahan documents were missing since 2009

BK Prasad report on the Ishrat Jahan missing documents has concluded that the missing papers were not put in the file at all and went missing way back in 2009 itself during the UPA rule, when P Chidambaram was the Home Minister.

The conclusive remarks of additional secretary, foreigners division BK Prasad, on Page 25 of the document, states that "based on his inquiry with the officers as well as based on inferences drawn from physical inspection which was conducted by him has led him to this conclusion."

These papers have been knowingly removed or intentionally misplaced during the period of September 18-24, 2009. The report which was submitted to the Home Ministry on June 15, has made scathing conclusion, that the file was removed or misplaced by someone who dealt with the file but failed to name any one person.

ALL FINGERS POINT AT CHIDAMBARAM

Even as India Today accessed key excerpts of the BK Prasad report on Ishrat missing documents, key official witness statements point finger to Chidambaram's hand in "changed affidavit", giving more ammunition to BJP that Congress lead UPA government had vitiated agenda against the BJP government and its officers in the "Ishrat case."

The one-man inquiry committee has further claimed that former Home Secretary G K Pillai was also aware of the changes made in the second affidavit relating to the case which was to be filed before Gujarat High Court.

The panel noted that a draft copy of a letter addressed to then Attorney General, late Goolam E Vahanvati by Pillai on September 18, 2009. The file was retrieved from the computer of the office of the Home Secretary which refers to some discussions in the chamber of the Law Minister in regard to the supplementary affidavit. The panel's claim assumes significance as it was Pillai, few months ago, who alleged that Chidambaram as Home Minister bypassed him and had rewritten the affidavit.

KEY WITNESS STATEMENT

In the 52 page report the most important witness D Diptivilas, a Joint Secretary in home ministry from Januray o1 2008 to March 03 2010, also indicts Chidambaram. Diptivilas as per the panel was also the most elusive of the witnesses. His whereabouts were neither available with UP government or with DOPT, but was traced through a website of a social network club to which he belonged. Retired IAS officer Diptivilas was reluctant to appear before the enquiry panel. He did not give any written statement but answered the questionnaire through an email.

Diptivilas stated that the written draft of an affidavit was given to him by the then home minister with the direction that this may be sent up for orders of higher authorities. Accordingly draft affidavit along with draft letter sent to law secretary was put on September 08 2009. The home secretary then sent the file down with a sealed envelope to the Attorney General on the same day. But importantly Diptivilas in his statement told the one-man panel that he was neither aware nor informed about the background or reason or necessity of filing an affidavit. But his statement indirectly indicts P Chidambaram, as he mentions that the Home Minister gave a written text with oral directions to put up the same to the Home secretary and Home Minister. The then home secretary GK Pillai was informed that this was done on Chidambaram's request.

In further statement which could give more credence to BJP's theory of Congress agenda against BJP lead government in Gujarat, Diptivilas statement said that as far supplementary affidavit is concerned. He had no idea who had prepared it. However the text of affidavit was given to him by the then HM, with a note saying "amended" but asked him to file a clean copy.

Following an uproar in Parliament, the ministry had asked Prasad to inquire into the circumstances in which the files related to the case of Ishrat went missing. The first affidavit was filed on the basis of inputs from Maharashtra and Gujarat Police besides Intelligence Bureau where it was said that the 19-year-old girl from Mumbai outskirts was an activist of terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba but it was ignored in the second affidavit, Home Ministry officials said. The second affidavit, is alleged to have been drafted by Chidambaram. The congress has called it a "fake propaganda" of BJP, after allegations of tutoring of witnesses by BK Prasad emerged.

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