The Delhi High Court today sought responses of the Centre, CBI and ICCR on a plea seeking probe into the alleged morphing of a photo of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Najma Heptulla in a book published on the country's first education minister.
Justice Vibhu Bakhru issued notices to the Centre, CBI and Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) seeking their replies by November 7 on the plea moved by Azad's grandnephew Firoz Bakht Ahmed who has alleged that the morphing of the picture was done at the instance of Najma Heptulla when she was heading ICCR.
The controversial photograph showing Azad seating with Heptulla after her graduation was published in an ICCR publication titled "Journey of a Legend, on the life of India's first Education Minister". The publication was later withdrawn by ICCR.
The petitioner alleged the photograph is morphoed as Heptulla had graduated in May 1958 whereas Azad died on February 22, 1958 and pleaded with the court for a CBI inquiry in the controversy.
The court, however, said one court has already passed the order directing the CBI to probe into the allegations and bring the same to a logical conclusion as expeditiously as possible.
"Why don't you (CBI) put that order in place?" the judge said while asking the Centre to inform the probe agency to take instruction on the issue.
During the brief hearing, advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioner, said this court had on July 5, 2006 directed CBI to continue the investigation with respect to the allegations made and bring the same to a logical conclusion.
Bhushan alleged CBI has not yet made it clear whether the investigation in the matter has been brought to its logical conclusion or not.
