CBI files charge sheet in Dara Singh murder case

JAIPUR: The CBI has accused 14 policemen and two individuals for the alleged fake encounter of Dara Singh in 2006 by Rajasthan Police's special operations group in its charge sheet filed on Friday which also states that probe against former state minister Rajendra Singh Rathore is still on.

In its charge sheet filed before a Special Court here, the CBI has slapped charges of murder, criminal conspiracy, kidnapping among others on the accused in the case for killing Singh in a fake gun battle by a team of special operations group of Rajasthan Police in October 2006.

"The name of former Minister of Rajasthan has been mentioned in the charge sheet but not as an accused. His role is still under investigation," CBI sources said.

In the charge sheet, the CBI has accused two IPS officers -- Additional Director General of Police A K Jain and Inspector General A Ponnuchami -- besides Additional Superintendent of Police Arsad Ali, Inspectors Nisar Khan and Naresh Sharma, Assistant Sub-Inspector Surendra Singh, Sub-Inspector Satyanarayan Godara and seven other policemen for the killing.

The CBI has already arrested five policemen including Ponnuchamy, Khan, Sharma, Godara and Assistant Sub-Inspector Surendra Singh and a private person while rest are absconding.

The Special Operations Group killed Dara Singh in an alleged encounter on October 23, 2006 in Rangendra Prasad Nagar area on the outskirts of Jaipur.

The police had claimed that Dara was fleeing from its custody when he was shot. Acting on a petition by Dara's widow Sushila that her husband was killed in cold blood, the Supreme Court ordered a CBI enquiry in the case.

Dara's family members have pointed fingers at a senior state BJP leader claiming that he was targeted because of personal enmity. Dara was facing several cases including that of smuggling and attempt to murder.