Probe the terrorist angle in the Ishrat Jahan case: Court

While delivering the judgment, a bench of Justice Jayant Patel and Justice Abhilasha Kumari observed that allegation of the terrorist act in Ishrat Jahan case should be probed.

The Detection of Crime Branch, which gunned down Ishrat Jahan, Javed Sheikh, Zisshan Johar and Amjadali Rana, claimed that the four were LeT terrorists and   were on a mission to eliminate Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

The bench said: "We find it proper to record that the investigation though now completed on the aspects of genuineness of the encounter, other aspects are yet to be investigated regarding causing death of the persons concerned (deceased) and aspects related thereto."

The court said, "Further, it may be required on the aspect of allegation of Terrorist Act as per  complaint vide CR No.8/2004 of Crime Branch Police Station. Therefore, the investigation is required to be taken up and handled with all sincerity for enforcing the law to its logical end."

The court also observed, "In our view, the facts and  circumstances of the present case as have now emerged, call for exercise of power treating the case in the exceptional category, for assignment of the investigation to CBI in order to provide credibility and instil confidence in the investigation, since the incident has by now acquired national, if not international ramifications."