Keep DNA report confidential, N.D. Tiwari tells court

New Delhi, July 18 (IANS) Veteran Congress leader N.D. Tiwari Wednesday urged the Delhi High Court to keep the report of his DNA test confidential till the conclusion of the hearing in a paternity suit filed by a man claiming to be Tiwari's biological son.

He also requested for in-camera proceedings in the suit.

Rohit Shekhar, 32, in 2008 filed the suit claiming to be the biological son of Tiwari, 87.

Hyderabad-based Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics recently submitted in the court the DNA reports of Tiwari, Rohit and his mother Ujjawala Sharma.

Tiwari, filing a fresh application, said: "Direct all concerned to comply with the directions passed by the Supreme Court, and let the DNA report completely sealed and confidential till conclusion of the entire trial or alternatively at reasonable appropriate stage in the suit."

Tiwari May 29 furnished his blood sample for the DNA test at his residence in Dehradun in Uttarakhand following orders of the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court.

Referring to one of the Supreme Court orders, he said the apex court made it 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," his plea said.

He said Rohit and his mother "are leaving no stone unturned to get the report unsealed and make it public to attract undue media attention without completion of trial".

The high court April 27 directed Tiwari to undergo the DNA test and also imposed a fine of Rs.25,000 on him.