CBI to seek sanction for prosecution of IB officials in Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case

NEW DELHI: With the Attorney General throwing a spanner in its works, CBI will soon approach the government seeking sanction for prosecution against four Intelligence Bureau officials, including its former Special Director Rajinder Kumar, in the Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case.

"We have received the opinion of the Attorney General (G E Vahanvati). Now we will approach the cadre controlling authority seeking sanction for prosecution of the IB officials," CBI Director Ranjit Sinha told PTI today.

Vahanvati, who had on Friday given his opinion suggesting that CBI needed a prior nod before prosecuting Intelligence Bureau officers in the case, however, feels that not taking the sanction at the time of filing the charge sheet is not fatal to the case.

"It can be produced before the court takes cognisance of the charge sheet," he told PTI.

Sinha acknowledged there was a difference of opinion within the agency on the issue. "There was a difference of opinion between me and the Director, Prosecution, and therefore, the matter was referred to the Attorney General," he said.

He said the Home Ministry will be handed over the request for granting sanction for prosecution against the senior retired officer and the serving subordinate staff.

CBI had filed a charge sheet in the special court in Ahmedabad on Thursday against Kumar, a 1979-batch IPS officer, and P Mittal, M K Sinha and Rajiv Wankhede. The former Special Director has been charged with criminal conspiracy and murder while the other three were slapped with charges of criminal conspiracy, wrongful confinement, kidnapping and wrongful concealment of facts.