Ishrat encounter: Accused says he was falsely framed

IPS officer PP Pandey has moved a discharge application before the CBI court in connection with the alleged encounter case of Ishrat Jahan and three others.

The officer claimed that he was falsely framed and there are no evidence against him and so he should be discharged from trial.

The court also asked the victim's advocate to file the submission on October 11, the next date of hearing.

IPS officer PP Pandey, an accused in the Ishrat Jahan encounter case, in his application said that he was falsely framed. His advocate Nirupam Nanavati submitted before additional sessions judge JK Pandya that there were no direct or indirect evidence against the applicant as he was not even present at the crime scene.

Vehemently opposing the discharge application, CBI's special public prosecutor RC Kodekar submitted that the statements of the accused's gunmen and police inspector BH Patel indicated his involvement in the encounter. There was also evidence of accused meeting victim Ishrat and one Javed, when they were in illegal custody, said the advocate.

In June 2004, the Ahmedabad crime branch had gunned down Ishrat Jahan and three others at Kotarpur.

Allegations were that the victims were LeT operatives and were out to kill the then Chief Minister of the state and Hindu leaders. Ishrat and Javed's family approached the high court alleging a fake encounter.

The court concluded that it was murder and transferred the investigation to the CBI. CBI has filed two charge sheets in the case.