High Court grants probe agency three-month extension
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday arrested Mumbai-based
journalist Ketan Tirodkar in connection with the 2003 Sadiq Jamal Mehtar
encounter case. This is the first arrest in the alleged fake encounter case of
2003.
Earlier in the day, Tirodkar was handed over to the central agency after he
appeared before the Gujarat High Court in the afternoon. “After he appeared
before the High Court, Tirodkar was brought to the CBI office at Gandhinagar
and later in the evening they took him into custody,” said his lawyer Japan
Dave.
Chief investigating officer Satish Kumar Rathi handed the arrest memo to
Tirodkar’s cousin, who had accompanied him.
While CBI sources said he was arrested on charges of murder, abduction and
conspiracy among others, Dave said the “agency has not not given any reasons
(for the arrest) at present”. “(CBI) only informed that tomorrow he will be
produced before the Special CBI judge in Ahmedabad,” Dave added.
Tirodkar, who had been ducking summons by the CBI, is said to be a crucial
link to prove that Sadiq’s encounter was staged.
The court, meanwhile, granted the CBI an extension of three months (till
October 2) to complete the probe. “Having heard CBI counsel and Sinha (Advocate
Mukul Sinha who asked the court that CBI must file an Action Taken Report
before giving another extension), everybody’s endevour should be to do it as
soon as possible so that the investigative officer reaches the ultimate truth
and real culprits are found out. Therefore, time to conclude the investigation
is hereby extended up to October 2,” the court observed.
On Wednesday, the CBI had stated that examination of Tirodkar was crucial,
after which Justice M R Shah ordered to arrest him if he did not appear before
the court on Thursday.
It was one of Tirodkar’s affidavits which suggested that Sadiq was killed in
a fake encounter. Following this, Sadiq’s brother Shabbir took up the matter
and approached the High Court seeking probe into the encounter.
Tirodkar has claimed in his affidavit filed before a MCOCA (Maharashtra
Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999) court in Mumbai in 2008 that Sadiq was
handed over to the Gujarat Police in 2003 days before he was killed. Tirodkar
has also named “encounter specialist” Daya Nayak who allegedly mediated the
“handover”.
Sadiq, a resident of Bhavnagar, was killed in encounter by Gujarat Police in
Ahmedabad on January 13, 2003. Police claimed he was a Lashkar-e-Taiba
operative, and was on a “mission” to kill Chief Minister Narendra Modi and VHP
leader Pravin Togadia.
