GUJARAT GOVT. COUNSEL QUITS

Advocate Arvind Pandya, who represents the Gujarat government in some Gujarat 2002 riot cases and also in the Nanavati Inquiry Commission, tendered his resignation to authorities concerned on October 27

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June 13, 2022
Advocate Arvind Pandya, who represents the Gujarat government in some Gujarat 2002 riot cases and also in the Nanavati Inquiry Commission, tendered his resignation to authorities concerned on October 27.
This first victim of the Tehelka sting “Operation Kalank,” who figured in the programme, also filed an FIR against Aaj Tak, its Gujarat bureau-chief Dhimant Purohit and two Tehelka scribes under Sections 406, 420, 451, 469, 499, 500, 501, and 120B of Cr.P.C.
In the sting, Pandya was shown talking about the BJP-run government’s role in the riots and making some sensational comments.
The counsel alleged two people were sent by the Aaj Tak asking him if he could act it in a serial featuring the riots.
Talking to reporters, he said, “The channel and its correspondent have cheated me and I have filed a police complaint against them for this.”
“I was approached by Purohit as we have known each other for many years and he told me that his channel was doing a reality show on the riots and they wanted real life persons to act certain parts,” the counsel said.
The advocate said Purohit then sent two persons to shoot for the ‘reality show’ and they made him speak from certain scripts related to the role of the government and Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
“The two persons made me sign on the script but did not give me a copy. I tried for the past six months to get a copy from the journalist but he also did not give it to me. Then they aired parts of the interview on the sting operation,” Pandya alleged.
The channel has however denied the charges levelled by Pandya.
In a statement issued in Delhi, India Today Editor-in-Chief Aroon Purie said, “This is totally a figment of imagination. Purohit had nothing to do with the sting operation and has at no point contacted Pandya to act in any serial of any kind.

Pandya was earlier caught in another sting operation also conducted by the Aaj Tak in which he was heard purportedly tutoring retired IPS officer R B Sreekumar to toe the state government’s line while deposing before the two-man riot inquiry panel.