Ishrat case: Gujarat HC rejects Pandey's advanced bail plea

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat High Court today rejected ADGP P P Pandey's application challenging the order of special CBI court, which had rejected his anticipatory bail plea and declined to offer further protection from arrest by the CBI in the Ishrat Jahan alleged fake encounter case.

A single judge bench comprising Justice A J Desai rejected Pandey's application challenging the order of special CBI court, which had yesterday rejected his anticipatory bail application on the ground that investigation in the case is pending and at a crucial juncture.

Justice Desai also declined to offer further protection from arrest by CBI.

Earlier, Pandey's counsel Nirupam Nanavati argued that the senior IPS officer cannot be declared a proclaimed offender as he has complied with the orders of the Supreme Court.

"The stigma attached to conduct of my client, may not disappear, but stands diluted as I've complied with the orders of the Supreme Court," Nanavati argued.

Nanavati further said that the role assigned to Pandey in the FIR filed by the CBI and the subsequent charge sheet does not in any way suggest he was present at the time of the encounter at the place of the encounter, nor does he know anything about the encounter.

Nanavati asked "Why does CBI want to arrest Pandey? Why do you require Pandey's custodial interrogation when charge sheet has been filed, evidences collected and statements of witnesses recorded?"

"CBI is anxious to arrest my client, it is chasing him, to elicit a desired, tailored statement," Nanavati argued, challenging the order of the special CBI judge.