Johri seeks more powers in fake encounter case

Ahmedabad, May 28 (UNI) IGP Geetha Johri Gujarat heading the team conducting an inquiry into the fake encounter case of alleged gangster Sohrabuddin Sheikh, has reportedly sought additional powers failing which she has asked the case to be shifted to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Sources said the police officer has written a note to her superiors seeking more powers to question some IPS rank officers.

This development has come after she was denied permission to question IPS officer Dr N K Amin.

The Gujarat government's interference, despite the Supreme Court's order, has irked Ms Johri to a great extent, sources said.

Rejecting the plea for a CBI probe, the Supreme Court sternly told the Gujarat DGP not to interfere with the investigations by Ms Johri, who was asked to directly report to it on the case.

She is credited with having done much to nail the three senior IPS officers responsible for the killing of Sohrabuddin, an alleged extortionist, who was dubbed a terrorist and done away with.

The Gujarat government was asked to submit its final report on July 3 by the court, which posted the matter for next hearing to July 16.

Sohrabuddin was gunned down on November 26, 2005 after being branded a Lashkar-e-Toiba militant by the Gujarat police. He was accused of trying to hatch a conspiracy to kill Chief Minister Narendra Modi. His wife Kausar Bi, who went missing after the incident, was also allegedly killed by the police.

The Gujarat government had admitted before the Supreme Court that Sheikh was killed in a fake encounter with the police officials.

Three top police officials - D G Vanzara and Rajkumar Pandian, and Rajasthan Police SP Dinesh Kumar - were arrested last month for their involvement in this case.

The incident has triggered a nation-wide debate over fake encounters by police at the behest of their political bosses.

UNI