Paternity suit: ND Tiwari directed to give DNA samples

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

The Court’s direction to Mr Tiwari to give his blood samples came after one Rohit Shekhar had moved before it, 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 Mr Tiwari and sent to the CDFD since the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad was no longer conducting DNA tests.The Joint Registrar has been directed to collect the blood samples from Mr Tiwari for the DNA test.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court refused to grant a stay on the Delhi High Court’s order, directing Mr Tiwari to undergo the DNA tests. However, the Supreme Court had clarified that the results of the DNA test would not be made public ‘unless required’ in giving the judgement in the paternity suit. The Supreme Court had told Mr Tiwari that the tests were necessary in case something happens to the 85-year-old politician.

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

He had challenged the decision of Delhi High Court division bench admitting the appeal of Rohit Shekhar who is claiming that Mr Tiwari is his biological father.

Rohit's mother Ujjwala Sharma is the daughter of Late Union Minister Prof Sher Singh.

Rohit Shekhar has been pressing for the DNA test of Mr Tiwari as well his own to confirm that the two are father and son. Mr Tiwari has been refusing to go in for the DNA test.

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

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

It has directed Mr Tiwari to respond to the allegations.