Ex-DGP KR Kaushik now an accused in Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case

In a new development in the Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday summoned former Ahmedabad commissioner of police (CP), KR Kaushik as an accused. He had also been questioned by the investigating agency, a few days earlier. 

The 1972-batch Gujarat IPS officer was earlier questioned in connection with the intelligence input that was provided to him from the central Intelligence Bureau (IB), which was eventually communicated to then the joint CP, Detection of Crime Branch (DCB), PP Pandey. Pandey, also sought by the agency in the case, has been untraceable since May 10

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The CBI, after the questioning of central IB special director Rajendra Kumar as well as suspended Gujarat IPS officers GL Singhal and DG Vanzara had concluded that the said intelligence input was ‘cooked up’ only with the intent of eliminating Ishrat Jahan and three others.

During the course of investigation, the agency had found that Kaushik was privy to the intention of the accused cops to stage the encounter. However, he was not physically present when the killings took place. Sources in the agency claim it is also looking into why and how the conspiracy to stage the killings was hatched.

According to sources, being head of the city police at the time, he is responsible for the criminal act that took place under his jurisdiction, as he was aware it was going to happen. Kaushik, according to the sources, was cornered by the CBI on the basis of the IB input that he had passed on to DCB.

Following his retirement as Gujarat director general of police (DGP) in September 2008, he has been working with a corporate company.