N D Tiwari wants DNA reports to remain confidential

Veteran Congress leader N D Tiwari on Wednesday moved the Delhi high court seeking a direction to keep DNA test findings 'confidential' and to hold in-camera proceedings in a paternity suit filed by a Delhi-based youth who claims to be his biological son.

Eighty-seven-year-old Tiwari, in his fresh application, said, "Direct all concerned to comply with the directions passed by the Supreme Court, and let the DNA report be completely sealed and confidential until conclusion of entire trial or alternatively at reasonable appropriate stage in the suit."

Tiwari had given blood sample for the DNA test on May 29 at his residence in Dehradun following a Supreme Court order in the case.

Referring to one of the Supreme Court orders, the application said that it has been made clear that the DNA report will remain confidential till the conclusion of 'reasonable appropriate and proportionate trial'.

"Pass appropriate directions to conduct entire trial and all proceedings relating to the civil suit in-camera," the application said, adding that the youth Rohit and his mother 'are leaving no stone unturned to get the report unsealed and make it public to attract undue media attraction without completion of trial'.

Hyderabad-based Centre For DNA Finger Prints and Diagnostic has recently submitted in sealed cover the DNA reports of Tiwari, Rohit and his mother Ujjawala Sharma before the Delhi high court.

The high court, in its April 27 order, had ordered Tiwari to undergo the DNA test in the paternity suit and had also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on the veteran leader.

The paternity suit was filed by 32-year-old Rohit Shekhar in 2008 seeking the court's direction to declare the Congress leader his biological father.

The Supreme Court, earlier, had refused to stay the order of the high court and opined that Tiwari should abide by the court orders as vital evidence may be lost for forever considering his old age.

The April 27 order of the high court had come on Tiwari's plea challenging the December 23, 2010 order of the high court which had asked him to give his blood sample for DNA test.

Tiwari had on June 1, 2011 refused to appear in the high court dispensary to give his blood sample to ascertain Rohit's claim of being his biological son, saying he cannot be forced to do so.