India, March 6 -- A judicial commission investigating the death of nearly 120 people during a religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras district last year shied away from blaming controversial godman Suraj Pal or Bhole Baba for the tragedy but pointed to "serious lapses" by the police, administration and organisers, and hinted at the possibility of a conspiracy to "defame" the state government.

The 1,670 page report tabled by the state government in the assembly on Wednesday rejected the theory - first floated by Pal's lawyers - that unidentified men spraying toxic gas led to the stampede.

It said that the crowd at the venue was at least three times the sanctioned number (estimated number 80,000) but refused to name any individual ...