NEW DELHI: At least three crucial letters related to the Ishrat Jahan case files are missing from the secure North Block offices of the Home Ministry, adding to the mystery surrounding the UPA’s clean chit to the alleged Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists.
Interestingly, various other documents related to the case are still in the files. According to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, two letters that former Home Secretary G K Pillai had written to the then Attorney-General G E Vahanvati are missing.
These two letters were written on September 18 and September 23, 2009. Interestingly, one note that remains in the file shows that Pillai had marked the second affidavit to Chidambaram the same day.
What is more surprising is that the draft of the second affidavit, which was vetted by the Attorney- General, is also missing. What remains is the draft that was changed by P Chidambaram on September 24, 2009. What remains in the file is Chidambaram’s note “as amended, please show the clear copy before it is sent to the Court.” This was followed by a note from Pillai that “clear copy shown to home minister and please take further action to be filed.”
Another noting suggested that the affidavit should be sent to the then law secretary and also a copy sent to the then Attorney General Vahanvati only for information and not for vetting. In the second affidavit Chidambaram removed the “terror links” of Ishrat and three others. As Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the notings on the concerned file did not provide any reason for the filing of the second affidavit on Sept 29, 2009. “Perhaps, all three key documents missing from North Block may expose the entire conspiracy as there was no need to change the affidavit and secondly no need to remove the AG’s vetted draft from the file. This points towards a well-planned attempt to fix the political rival without realising the damage it caused to Central agencies,” a senior officer in security establishment speculated.