SC dismisses review plea for reinvestigation into Mahatma Gandhi's assassination
New Delhi, Mar 4: The Supreme Court has found "no grounds" to recall its judgement rejecting the plea seeking reinvestigation into the alleged "larger conspiracy leading to" the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.
The apex court refused to take into account the plea in the review petition that claimed that "fresh" documents and evidence would clear the air in the matter.
"We have carefully gone through the review petition and the connected papers filed therewith. We do not find any ground, whatsoever, to entertain the same. The review petition is, accordingly dismissed," a bench comprising Justices S A Bobde and L N Rao said in a recent order.
Mumbai-based researcher Pankaj Phadnis had filed a petition asking the apex court to peruse some books and a forensic report of the photographs of wounds on the body of Gandhi to decide the need for fresh probe into his killing.
The Supreme Court had rejected his earlier plea for re-investigation into the assassination on March 28, 2018.
In the fresh plea, he had given reference from two book -- "Who Killed Gandhi" by Lourenco de Salvador written in 1963 and "India Remembered" by Pamella Mountbatten, daughter of the then Governor General Lord L. Mountbatten.
He had claimed that examination of the two books would lead to conclusion that the person/persons in the highest echelons of power, were "complicit" in the murder of Gandhi.
In the plea, he claimed that he had obtained a report of a well known expert in the United States who has categorically confirmed that four wounds were visible on the chest of Gandhi in the photograph obtained by him from the National Gandhi Museum, Delhi and which had been published on January 31, 1948 by a prominent newspaper and has been on display for the last 70 years in the museum.
Phadnis, who is also the trustee of Abhinav Bharat Charitable Trust, filed the petition seeking recall of the March 28 verdict by which the apex court had rejected his attempt to get the probe into Gandhi's death reopened, saying it would be an exercise in futile.
However, in his review petition, Phadnis claimed the apex court did not have the opportunity to examine the material which he had secured and further some of the facts he brought in the rejoinder affidavit were not considered.
The petitioner claimed that the apex court only relied on the submission of a senior advocate, who was appointed as amicus curiae in the matter, and his reply to the amicus' report was not taken into account.
Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948 and nine accused were tried for the conspiracy and murder. A trial court on February 10, 1949 convicted seven accused and acquitted one. One of the accused is absconding.
The petitioner had questioned the 'three bullet theory' relied upon by various courts to hold the conviction of Nathuram Godse and Narayan Apte, who were hanged. He had contended that there was need to examine whether there was a fourth bullet, which was fired by someone other than Godse.
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was given benefit of doubt due to lack of evidence.
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New Faces: 10 talents who are ready to own IPL this season
New Delhi (PTI): Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre hogged the limelight in their debut IPL season last year and in the upcoming edition too, there would be quite a few who would like to justify the tournament tagline of "Where Talent Meets Opportunity".
PTI takes a look at one rookie from each of the 10 franchises who are expected to make a name for themselves in the next eight weeks.
The list comprises both Indian and international names who either haven't yet made their IPL debut or have played less than five games so far.
Prashant Veer (Chennai Super Kings):
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There are plenty of cricketers in India, who bowl slow left-arm orthodox and bat left-handed. But none of them are faced with the task of filling up the big boots of Ravindra Jadeja like the 20-year-old Amethi-born Prashant Veer.
Never before has one witnessed Chennai Super Kings invest so heavily in youth. The franchise bagged him with a Rs 14.20 crore bid, based more on potential and how the scouts felt after looking at him during trials.
The 20-year-old has only nine Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) matches under his belt but with a bowling economy rate of 6.45 and a batting strike-rate of 167 plus, Prashant Veer is expected to play a big part for the 'Canary Yellows' this season.
Auqib Nabi (Delhi Capitals):
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At 29, Nabi isn't a spring chicken and has a good eight years of domestic cricket under his belt but the anticipation surrounding his IPL debut would make DC fans believe that they are in for something special.
After a stellar Ranji season during which he claimed 60 odd wickets to singlehandedly get the trophy for Jammu and Kashmir, the 'Baramullah Express's big-match temperament and India prospects will be judged this year.
He has played 34 T20 games for J&K in SMAT and the economy rate of 7.74 is good for someone who mostly bowls in Powerplays.
The only worrying factor will be his average speed, which is in early 130s and could be cannon fodder for international batters.
Ashok Sharma (Gujarat Titans):
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Ashok, one of the fastest young bowlers in India, has been a part of Rajasthan Royals set-up but hasn't got a game so far in the IPL.
There are no guarantees that the 23-year-old will get one this season with GT, especially with Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna being around as first two choices along with Kagiso Rabada.
However, among back-up Indian pacers, Ashok could be looked at by head coach Ashish Nehra, especially after clocking 150 kmph at this year's SMAT.
Tejasvi Dahiya (Kolkata Knight Riders):
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Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Abhishek Nayar's protege Angkrish Raghuvanshi is being prepared as the batter-keeper since he has already played a couple of IPL seasons.
But the 23-year-old Dahiya, who hails from Delhi, is also a serious talent, who if persisted with, could give results in long run. He scored a half-century for Delhi during the last SMAT and a strike-rate of 168 makes him a good bet in the middle-order.
Naman Tiwari (Lucknow Super Giants):
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Good left-arm pacers are few and far between in India and the 2024 U-19 World Cupper Naman Tiwari has impressed one and all during trials.
The 20-year-old regularly clocks northwards of 140 clicks, had a good 2024 UP T20 league for Noida Kings and could be a handy back-up option if need be.
Tiwari has the ability to get deliveries straighten to right handers.
Allah Ghazanfar (Mumbai Indians):
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If there is one bowler that IPL fans have been eagerly waiting to watch, it has to be 20-year-old Ghazanfar, the latest from the stable of mystery spinners produced by Afghanistan.
Ghazanfar was supposed to play for KKR last season but had opted out. He has done well for MI Emirates and this season, Mahela Jayawardene would be tempted to use him as one of the four overseas options.
Mitchell Owen (Punjab Kings):
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Last season, Owen got to face only two balls in a single game but the burly Tasmanian is coming on the back of a reputation that he has built for Hobart Hurricanes with a strike-rate of 187 over 36 Big Bash League games and a strike rate of 180 plus in 75 career T20 games.
The 24-year-old has the ability to give the ball mighty thwack and to add to it, he can slip in an over or two of medium pace.
Ravi Singh (Rajasthan Royals):
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The 24-year-old Railwayman smashed 218 runs for his side with a strike rate of 173 during SMAT last year.
The highlight certainly was a 38-ball-68 in a successful chase against Vidarbha -- an attack that had IPL players Yash Thakur, Harsh Dubey and Darshan Nalkande. It fetched him Rs 95 lakh deal with RR and it would be interesting to follow his progress this season.
Jacob Bethell (Royal Challengers Benagluru):
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The 22-year-old scored a half-century last season in one of the two games that he got a look-in but this time, Bethell is coming into the IPL on the back of a superb century in the T20 World Cup semi-final against India at the Wankhede.
On Chinnaswamy belters, he along with Jitesh Sharma, could become a nightmare for the opposition teams.
Shivang Kumar (Sunrisers Hyderabad):
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The 23-year-old from Madhya Pradesh bowls left-arm wrist spin that makes him a rare commodity. Unlike Kuldeep, who has an angular run-up to the crease, Shivang has a more orthodox straight run-up.
He is also a handy lower order batter but it remains to be seen if SRH head coach Daniel Vettori can find a slot for him.
