Ahmedabad:
The Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the 2002 post-Godhra riot cases, today recorded the statement of Rais Khan for nearly five hours, following a court order to probe the allegations made by him against social activist Teesta Setalvad.
Khan, a former coordinator of the NGO Center for Justice and Peace (CJP), headed by Setalvad, had alleged in affidavits filed in special courts hearing post-Godhra riot cases, that riot witnesses and victims were tutored, cheated and made to sign false affidavits by Setalvad.
He was asked questions with regard to his allegations made against Setalvad and his role while he was working as coordinator of CJP, sources in SIT said.
Khan's statement was recorded after Judge BU Joshi, hearing the Gulbarg society case, last week ordered SIT to record his statement and probe allegations made against Setalvad.
In his application Khan has said, "I am an important link which can throw light on how the victims and witnesses were tutored, cheated and made to sign false affidavits by Teesta Setalvad in the name of 'Interest of Community'".
Khan has further alleged that Zakia Jaffery, wife of former Congress MP Ehsan Jaffery, who was among the 69 killed in the Gulburg society riots in 2002, had lied in the court about not taking legal help from Setalvad or him.
"I correctly remember that Zakia took help of Setalvad in her entire legal battle and in fact Zakia was heavily dependent on Teesta for every legal action and I was closely associated with all activities," Khan said in the affidavit.
Khan also alleged that when witnesses of Gulbarg society were called by the Nanavati Commission for examination, Setalvad had instructed him to "ensure that they (witnesses) are not examined by the Commission".
"Hence, I immediately called all the witnesses and kept them in a flat in Shahalem, Ahmedabad. No one was allowed to go to the commission," he added.
Khan has also filed an affidavit in the court hearing the Naroda Gam riot case, in which he claimed that allegations levelled against him by some of the witnesses and riot victims, that he had manipulated their affidavits filed in the Supreme Court, were false.
Khan said his duty as coordinator of CJP was limited to managing the affidavits and handing the signed ones over to Setalvad or her advocate.