Ex-Gujarat cops depose through video-conferencing

Former inspector general of police DG Vanzare and superintendent of police Rajkumar Pandiyal, both Gujarat anti-terrorism squad (ATS) officers who have been arrested in the Ishrat Jehan case, testified in the case of abduction-and-murder of Pimpri-based businessman Sagar Sahani (22) through video-conferencing from Sabarmati Jail.

The two officers had caught the alleged killers of Sahani and handed them over to the Pune police in 2005. Interestingly, the two ATS officers did not depose as prosecution witnesses, but were asked to testify at the instance of an application moved by the defence lawyer, Vidyadhar Koshe. The deposition took place in the court of special judge SP Tavade, for almost two hours.

Koshe said, “The incident took place in 2005. We had listed the two officers as defence witnesses. However, they could not recollect the incident as they had no documents to refer to when they testified.”

The trial began on June 21, 2011. One of the suspects, Narayanbhai Govindbhai Jameriya (50) of Bodh village in Porbunder, turned approver. He was a driver and had allegedly played a key role in the crime. His confession was recorded in 2010.

The case has 15 accused including Mohammed Abali, Prasad Jagannath Shetty, Jagwalsingh Bhuraram Chaudhary, Chhotu alias Arvind Vitthal Chaudhary, Dipubhai Dayaram Khanki, Jitendra Shantilal Modha, Samad Goga Gadvi alias Kariya, Ajay Parnath Gadvi, Dinesh Kasambhai Dhukdiya, Chhotu Gisaiwala alias Ravetsingh Devendrasingh Badavia and Nitin Shantilal Modha.

They have been charged under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999.