One of the witnesses named by controversial IPS officer Sanjeev Bhatt, who could substantiate his claim of attending a meeting called by the Chief Minister Narendra Modi on February 27, 2002, has said in a letter to Nanavati Commission that he was on leave and out of station that day.

In a letter to Nanavati Commission yesterday, police constable K D Pant, who worked under Bhatt at the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB), has said that he was in Mumbai on February 27, 2002 for some personal work at the French Embassy there.

According to Bhatt’s affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, Pant was one of the witnesses named by him before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the apex court, as a person, who could corroborate his claim that he had attended the meeting at Modi’s residence on February 27, 2002.

Pant has further said in the letter, that he had left Mumbai in the afternoon on February 27, 2002, and reached Nadiad the next morning (February 28, 2002), where he learnt about the Godhra train burning incident through television news channels.

He has also mentioned in the letter that in his statement before SIT on April 5 this year, he had said that he was on leave on February 27, 2002, when asked if he knew about the meeting called by Modi that day.

On the other hand, during questioning by the state government Bhatt today stated before the Commission, that Pant had resumed office on afternoon of February 27, 2002, after his leave.

Bhatt further said that he had seen Pant in the SIB office that day and had also rewarded him for working late in the night.

The IPS officer, in his affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, where he had alleged complicity of Modi in the post-Godhra riots, had stated that Pant, who knew about the CM’s meeting, was threatened with dire consequences and arrest by the SIT probing some of the 2002 riot cases.

Bhatt had further alleged that Pant was virtually treated like an accused by the SIT during his questioning on April 5, 2011.

When the state government counsel S B Vakil asked Bhatt he was aware of the complaint filed by Pant against him, he answered in the affirmative.

Last month, Pant had filed a complaint with Ghatlodia police station here against Bhatt for threatening him and making him sign false affidavit with regard to meeting called by Modi on February 27, 2002.

During the questioning session by the government counsel S B Vakil Vakil on Bhatt’s affidavit filed in the apex court, the IPS officer mostly answered in ‘do not want to answer’ or ‘it is available in state records’. Some questions were answered in short with ‘yes’ and ‘no’.

The questioning of Bhatt, after being summoned by the Commission on May 16, completed today.