Sadik Jamal case: CBI arrests Tarun Barot

In a significant development, the CBI on Tuesday arrested Dy SP Tarun Barot, a prime accused in the Sadik Jamal fake encounter case, from Gandhinagar.

Barot, known as encounter specialist of Gujarat police, is currently posted in Mehsana. He was arrested after his interrogation by the central agency which has been investigating the case since last year.

Barot has been named as the key accused in the complaint
registered by the crime branch on the directions of Gujarat high court in June 2011. Barot will be lodged at the CBI office in Gandhinagar.

This is the second arrest in the case, after that of Mumbai-based former journalist Ketan Tirodkar. Tirodkar was arrested earlier this year on July 5. Sources close to the development said that Barot’s arrest is likely to be followed by arrests of more cops in the case.

Tirodkar, in his affidavit submitted before the Gujarat high court, had mentioned that he had handed over custody of Sadik Jamal to a team of Gujarat police, which included Tarun Barot, a police inspector at the time.

Sources revealed that CBI has got enough evidences to nail Barot’s role in Sadik Jamal’s murder.

“The CBI has secured statements and substantial evidence against Barot before arresting him,” a source said.

Sadik Jamal was in contact with encounter specialist Daya Nayak in Mumbai and was eventually handed over to Gujarat cops, Tirodkar said in his affidavit before the high court.

Sadik Jamal was allegedly killed in a fake encounter with crime branch officials near Galaxy cinema in Naroda on January 13, 2003. The investigation in the case was handed over to CBI in June last year.

The crime branch officials had claimed that according to an intelligence input received from Central Intelligence Bureau, Sadik Jamal was a noted criminal and had plans to kill BJP leaders including LK Advani, chief minister Narendra Modi and VHP leader Pravin Togadia.