CBI would have to check DG Vanzara's credibility: Ranjit Sinha

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation has responded coldly to jailed IPS officer DG Vanzara’s claims that ‘encounters’ in Gujarat were carried out as per the state government’s policy. Reacting to the cop’s claim, CBI director Ranjit Sinha told ET that CBI would have to check his credibility as he was the main accused in various fake encounter cases and his claims were made eight years after his arrest.

“Vanzara is the main accused in the fake encounter cases being probed by CBI. Now after 8 years of being arrested, he has come out with certain claims in his said resignation letter. We have to see his credibility in all this…many factors will have to be taken into consideration,” Sinha said when asked if the jailed police officer’s letter will have any relevance to the CBI probe in the Ishrat Jahan and Sadique Jamal fake encounter cases.

Another senior CBI official said the probe agency would speak to Vanzara in jail in the light of his resignation letter that pointed fingers at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and his lieutenant Amit Shah though CBI does not find any concrete evidence in the letter itself to pin down any political leader for the fake encounters.

“We are studying the 10-page letter since a copy of the same has also been marked to the CBI Director. Vanzara does not cite any specific instance in the Ishrat Jahan or the Sadique Jamal fake encounter cases, where he may have been specifically directed by then Gujarat home minister Amit Shah or Narendra Modi to act in a particular way,” the official said.

However, the officer said CBI could speak to Vanzara about the letter to see if he is willing to cite any specific instances to back his claims and give a statement to CBI to reveal any political sanction to his specific criminal acts in the Ishrat case.

ET has learnt that a CBI team had met Vanzara in jail last month, apparently to convince him to spill the beans on whether there was political sanction for the fake encounters.

Meanwhile, Vanzara’s September 1 resignation was rejected by the Gujarat government on Wednesday, saying as per central rules the resignation of an officer under suspension and facing criminal charges cannot be accepted.