CBI said that if let out he could intimidate witnesses and tamper with evidence of the case.
The CBI Friday opposed the bail plea of suspended IPS officer Abhay Chudasama, a key accused in the 2005 Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, in the Gujarat High Court, saying that if let out he could intimidate witnesses and tamper with evidence of the case.
The Central agency further contended in its affidavit filed in the court today, that they have evidence to believe that if let out on bail, Chudasama could influence witnesses in the Tulsi Prajapati fake encounter case, which it was investigating on orders of the Supreme Court.
Justice KM Thaker hearing the case asked Chudasama's lawyers to file reply to the CBI's affidavit by November 24, when the next hearing is scheduled.
In the affidavit, CBI has said that Chudasama played a key role in conspiracy of fake encounter of Sohrabuddin and murder of his wife Kausar Bi. He was involved in the extortion racket run by Sohrabuddin.
It further said that Chudasama had threatened key witnesses in the case Dashrat Patel and his brother Raman Patel, the owners of Popular Builders company.
Chudasama was the one who had offered Rs 50 lakh to Sohrabuddin's brother Rubabuddin Sheikh to withdraw his petition from the Supreme Court.
The CBI while opposing Chudasama's bail also cited the 2006 Tulsiram Prajapati encounter case that it was investigating and claimed that the probe in this case was at very critical stage and Chudasama if set free could influence evidence in the case.
According to CBI, they have video footage showing that Dashrat Patel was being threatened by Chudasama and another accused in the case Yashpal Chudasama.
The central agency further said that they have been receiving complaints from the Patel brothers that Chudasama had earlier intimidated them and if let out he could again threaten them which could affect the case.
Chudasama in his bail petition in High Court has claimed that he was being used as tool to get to former Gujarat Minister of State for Home Amit Shah who is also an accused in the case and now out on bail.
Claiming that CBI just made him ladder to reach Shah, Chudasama had denied all charges against him including that of criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence.
He has contended that if accused like former Gujarat Minister of State for Home Amit Shah, alleged to be the 'king pin' behind the fake encounter, and one Raju Jirawala, were granted bail by courts, hence he was also entitled to it.
On August 16, Special CBI Judge R M Parmar had rejected Chudasama's bail plea and observed that the officer was accused in a heinous crime and was claimed to be the key conspirator in the case by the prosecuting agency CBI, hence he cannot be granted bail.
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