Tiwari To Get DNA Tests Done At CDFD

The Delhi High Court on Monday directed senior Congress leader and former Andhra Pradesh Governor N D Tiwari to give blood samples for DNA tests to the Centre for DNA, Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), Hyderabad.

The Court directed Tiwari to give his blood samples after a certain Rohit Shekhar had moved a plea before the court, claiming that the senior leader was his biological father.

Acting on Rohit's plea, Justice Gita Mittal modified the Court's earlier judgment and said that the samples should be collected from Tiwari and sent to the CDFD instead of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, since the latter was no longer conducting DNA tests.

The Joint Registrar has been directed to collect the blood samples from Tiwari for the DNA tests.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court (SC) refused to grant a stay on the Delhi High Court's order directing Tiwari to undergo the tests. However, the SC had clarified that the results of the DNA test would not be made public unless they are required in giving a judgement in the paternity suit.

The SC had told the 85-year-old Congress leader that the tests were necessary, in case something happens to him.

The former Governor of Andhra Pradesh had to resign from his post after a sleaze tape, which allegedly showed him cavorting with women and indulging in obscene acts, was aired on a television channel.

He had challenged the decision of the Delhi High Court division bench admitting the appeal of Rohit Shekhar's claim.

Rohit's mother Ujjwala Sharma is the daughter of late Union Minister Prof. Sher Singh. Rohit Shekhar has been pressing for the DNA tests of Tiwari, as well his own, to confirm that the 2 are father and son. Tiwari, however, has been refusing to go in for the tests.

A single judge bench of Delhi High Court had dismissed Shekhar's petition at that time.

Rohit Shekhar then challenged the single judge bench order before the division bench of the High Court, which then, decided to hear the appeal on merit.

It has directed Tiwari to respond to the allegations.

Courtesy: INN