Ishrat Jahan case: Court grants time to CBI on plea to make Shah accused

AHMEDABAD: A local court here today granted 25 days time to the CBI to reply on a plea seeking to make former Gujarat minister Amit Shah and ex-DGP K R Kaushik accused in the 2004 Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case.

The plea was moved before special CBI Judge Geeta Gopi by Gopinath Pillai,father of Pranesh Pillai alias Javed Sheikh who was killed in the fake encounter.

Today, appearing before the court, the CBI advocate sought 30 days time to consider the plea.

Opposing this, victim's advocate Shamshad Pathan told the court, "When CBI has all the evidence against those accused persons, why the probe agency needs time."

"This is a crucial time when the elections are being conducted and their (Shah and Kaushik) free movements can cause harm to the investigation," advocate Pathan said further.

Reacting, CBI court told the victim's lawyer to refrain himself from addressing those persons as accused when prosecution has not yet decided on the plea.

Special CBI judge Geeta Gopi also said law and order problem can prevail if hearing on this issue is conducted in this crucial time.

Senior Advocate S V Raju has appeared for Amit shah, while advocate J R Dave appeared for cop K R Kaushik.

After hearing the prosecution and the applicant, the CBI court granted time till April 21.

Earlier on March 14, the court issued the notice to Shah, Kaushik and the probe agency CBI in connection with the case.

The application filed under section 319 and 193 of CRPC demanded to arraign K R Kaushik and Amit Shah as accused and hold a trial against them for the criminal conspiracy, illegal confinement and murder of the deceased.

CRPC sections 319 and 193 stand for the legal provision to make accused if in the course of court trial substantial evidences appeared against them.

Ishrat was killed along with her friend Javed Sheikh alias Pranesh Pillai, in Gujarat and two others, believed to be Pakistani nationals on June 15, 2004 by state police officers.