Soharabudin case: cop Amin changes mind on becoming approver

Ahmedabad, Jan 18 (PTI) N K Amin, a policeofficer-accused in Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter killingcase in Gujarat, today withdrew his applications seekingpardon and turning an approver in the 2005 incident.

Amin, who was termed as a key witness by CBI in theirsubmissions in the Gujarat High Court and the Supreme Court,filed an application before Additional Chief JudicialMagistrate A Y Dave seeking withdrawal of his earlier pleas,his lawyer Jagdish Ramani said.

Amin had filed the applications six months ago before aSpecial CBI court here seeking to turn an approver.

Today''s application has been approved by the court,following which his two pleas for pardon under CriminalProcedure Code (CrPC) 306 and becoming an approver under CrPC164 stood disposed off, said Ramani.

Amin said he wanted to withdraw from becoming anapprover and seeking pardon only at the present stage andwould have the right to file a similar application in future.

The ex-Deputy Superintendent of Police''s application forbecoming an approver had come a day after CBI arrested formerGujarat Home Minister Amit Shah on July 26 for his allegedrole in the staged killing of Sohrabuddin.

Amin, in his application, has said the shift in hisstand has come because of changed circumstances in the caseover the past six months.

He alleged he had suffered mental and physicalharassment from the other co-accused, mostly police officers,while he was lodged with them in the Sabarmati Central Jailhere. (More) PTI PB PD RSY

Amin said it was because of this harassment and threats to his life in Sabarmati Jail here that he had appliedfor transfer to another prison.

Following his application, the Gujarat High Court hadtransfered Amin to Vadodara Central jail in September 2010.

He said looking at threat to his life even when insidethe jail, he decided to withdraw the plea to become anapprover.