HC begins final hearing on plea for CBI probe in Sadik case

Ahmedabad, Feb 15 (PTI) The Gujarat High Court todaybegan final hearing into a plea demanding CBI investigationinto a 2003 police encounter of Sadik Jamal Mehtar whichinvolves suspended IPS officer D G Vanzara, a prime accused inthe Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case.

Sadik''s brother Shabbir Jamal Mehtar had filed apetition in the HC in 2007 demanding a CBI inquiry into theencounter of the 25-year-old alleged criminal who was killedat Naroda here on January 13, 2003 by city Crime Branch.

After the encounter, the Crime Branch had claimed theyhad intelligence inputs that Sadik was a noted criminal in theleague of persons like gangsters Dawood Ibrahim and ChhotaShakeel and planned to kill BJP leader L K Advani, ChiefMinister Narendra Modi and VHP leader Pravin Togadia.

Shabbir, in his petition, had however, alleged thathis brother''s encounter was fake.

Today, Justice Akil Kureshi, while hearing thepetition, raised critical questions regarding use ofintelligence inputs in connection with the encounter of Sadik.

He ordered the Metropolitan Court, where proceeding ofthe case was on, to send all documents pertaining to the caseto the HC by February 22 when the next hearing is scheduled.

The HC asked the State Government to reply as to howdid it receive information regarding Sadik''s intentions andwhat kind of co-ordination was there between the intelligenceagencies and local police.

It also sought information from the Government onwhetehr any Central agency was involved in giving tip-offabout Sadik, and if yes, when did the state police get thelast tip-off. (More) PTI PB PD RSY