Special Cell Cops admit weapon-planter their source in Liyaqat Shah case

NEW DELHI: Three senior Delhi Police Special Cell officers admitted before the National Investigation Agency that Sabir Khan Pathan, the man who planted weapons in a Jama Masjid Guest House in the Liyaqat Shah case, was an informer of the Special Cell.

In a 20-page NIA note sent to the Home Ministry, accessed by ET, NIA says Special Cell DCP Sanjeev Yadav, ACP Manishi Chandra and Inspector Sanjay Dutt conceded before NIA that Pathan was a Special Cell source. Pathan has been missing for almost two years now. The NIA note says the pattern of calls made by Pathan to Inspector Dutt and a Constable Manish before his disappearance indicates that the aforesaid personnel "were instrumental in ensuring that the accused absconded from subjecting himself to the law."

NIA says "this apprehension is only supported" even more as Dutt was the last person to speak to Pathan. "Dutt disclosed that on March 22, 2013, he received a call from Pathan that he was going home and that since he never came back. In May, he got a call from Pathan that he is in trouble and asked Dutt for help, but after that he never called him," the NIA note says.