Tytler says CBI must mention need for test, misses court

NEWDELHI: Congress leader Jagdish Tytler has opposed the plea by Central Bureau of Investigation seeking permission to conduct lie detection test on him in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, saying that the probe agency has not specified exact reason for it.

Tytler did not appear before the court on Friday but he filed an application through his lawyer stating that the Central Bureau Investigation (CBI) plea was a “gross misuse of law” and was filed with “malafide intention”.

Tytler’s counsel told a Delhi court that CBI has not specified reasons in its application to conduct lie detection test on him.

The court said that CBI might have found some contradictions in his statement and that is why they were demanding the test, however, the accused has the right to oppose the plea.

Senior advocate HS Phoolka, who represented the riot victims, showed a press clipping in the court which read that Tytler was ready to undergo lie detection test.

Maninder Singh, counsel for Abhishek Verma, who was also issued notice by the court on the CBI plea for lie-detection test, said that there was no need for the test when his client has cooperated in the investigation and stands by his statement given to CBI. Unlike Tytler, Verma appeared before the court.

He said, “The probing agency has not specified reasons to conduct lie detection test on him and he was ready to record his statement before a magistrate unser section 164 CrPC.”

If the CBI is not satisfied with the statement, then they can again demand for lie detection test, he added.

The court has granted a week’s time to Verma to file his reply and listed the matter for February 23 for hearing arguments on CBI’s application.

The court had on February 8 issued notice to Tytler and Verma on CBI’s plea.