Veteran Congress leader ND Tiwari was on Tuesday finally submited his blood sample for a DNA test in the paternity suit pending against him.

Accompanied by district officials, the team of forensic experts and doctors reached Tiwari’s house amid tight security. His blood samples were collected in connection with a four-year-old paternity suit filed by 32-year-old Rohit Shekhar.

Shekhar claims to be Tiwari’s biological son. The Supreme Court had set a deadline of May 29 for Tiwari to give his blood samples. The petitioner and his mother Ujjwala Sharma were also among those present at Tiwari’s residence while the samples were collected.

“I can only say that the case is close to justice… I firmly believe that if all the proceedings go on smoothly in the well known CDFD laboratory in Hyderabad under the supervision of the court then Rohit will surely get justice. I cannot comment on anything else apart from this now,” Shekhar’s mother said.

Tiwari had earlier failed to get any relief from the Supreme Court after it directed him to comply with the Delhi High Court order to undergo the paternity test. The leader, who has been opposing the suit from the beginning, had cited his old age as the reason and refused to give blood samples risking use of force to comply with the apex court’s order.

Shekhar termed the case his battle for legitimacy and expressed hope that justice would be in his favour.

“No one deserves the humiliation I have gone through. I have been talking about it from past eight years and for six years in open court. I hope that it changes the family law in India. There is no scope for escape for Mr Tiwari,” Shekhar said confidently.

Shekhar and his mother gave their blood samples for a DNA test in the Delhi High Court last Saturday.