Gujarat government reinstates G L Singhal, accused in Ishrat Jahan case

AHMEDABAD: In a surprise move, Gujarat government today reinstated suspended IPS officer GL Singhal, an accused in Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case whose recording of phone conversations had brought to light the snooping scandal allegedly involving Narendra Modi aide Amit Shah.

"Yes, he (GL Singhal) has been reinstated. Last night, sanction was given for his reinstatement," S K Nanda, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), said.

Confirming the development, state Director General of Police P C Thakur said Singhal has been posted as Group Commandant of State Reserve Police at Gandhinagar.

While investigating the Ishrat case, the CBI had raided Singhal's house and seized a pen drive containing 267 recordings.

One of the recordings was claimed to contain conversations between law officers of the state and ministers allegedly making plans to derail the Ishrat case probe, while some others purportedly had conversations between former Minister of State for Home Shah and Singhal making plans to snoop on a woman architect at the behest of "Saheb". It was alleged that Saheb stood for Narendra Modi.

Shah, is currently BJP national general secretary, who is being credited with the party's phenomenal success in the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh.

The alleged taped conversation between Shah and Singhal was aired by news portals Cobrapost and Gulail which purportedly featured the former minister instructing the IPS officer to closely monitor the movements of the woman.

"I have been reinstated (in service) as the commandant of SRP group 12 at Gandhinagar," Singhal told PTI, adding he will work "aggressively".

Singhal was suspended by the Narendra Modi government after his arrest in the Ishrat Jahan encounter case.

Following his arrest and suspension, Singhal had resigned fron service, alleging the state government had failed to protect him. However, his resignation was not accepted on technical grounds.

In July last year, CBI had charge-sheeted Singhal, three other IPS officers and others of lower ranks in connection with the alleged staged encounter of Ishrat and three others in 2004.