Relieve DGP Pandey forthwith: SC to Gujarat

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday shrugged off a request by the Gujarat government to allow IPS officer P.P. Pandey, an accused in the Ishrat Jahan encounter case, to retire gracefully after a three month extension granted to him which ends on April 30, instead insisting that the state government must relieve him “forthwith”.

A bench, led by Chief Justice of India JS Khehar, said that since the top officer has offered to quit there was no reason why the state should allow him to continue.

“It is better he steps down immediately,” the CJI said. “He has retired, hasn’t he?” Additional SG Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state government tried to prevail upon the state, insisting that it was an attempt to “malign" the state.


“There is no trial, charges have not been framed.” “Only a chargesheet has been filed.” Senior advocate Kapil Sibal opposed letting Pandey continue insisting that he was a “murder” accused.

He was appearing for former Maharashtra top cop Julio Rebeiro who has in a petition opposed the state government decision to retain Pandey, promote him and also grant him an extension as a reward. “He has sought discharge. Why the extension when all the junior officers are witnesses in the case?” Sibal argued, expressing the fear that he might influence the witnesses.

Mehta questioned this by asking: “Who’s murder?” “This is an attempt to malign the state. This is the case in which affidavits were (allegedly) changed in 10 days by the then (UPA) government,” Mehta contended.

Mehta, however, did not take on the court on the issue of letting Pandey continue and instead agreed to pass orders relieving Pandey in the face of the opposition from the court to his continuing in office.