The appointment of Justice Akshay Mehta to the Nanavati Commission has sparked off a controversy after the Jan Sangharsh Manch decided not to participate in its proceedings.

"Allegations were made against Justice Mehta in a sting operation `Kalank' of Tehelka and a TV channel," advocate Mukul Sinha, who represents a section of riot victims, said.

"He is the same judge whom Babu Bajrangi, the main accused in the Naroda Patia case, referred to as apna admi in the Tehelka tapes," Sinha said.

"Whether the allegations are true or not is a different matter," Sinha added.

"The government should not have appointed Justice Mehta in the Commission," Sinha said, adding that the JSM was going to write to the state government to change its decision.

"We had also suggested names of five judges to be appointed to the panel. The government should have appointed anyone from this list," he added.

The state government on Wednesday appointed Justice Mehta in the Commission after Justice K G Shah passed away recently. Justice Mehta has served as a judge in the Gujarat High Court for seven years before retiring in 2007.

The Commission is inquiring into the Godhra train carnage and the post-Godhra riots cases.