Sohrab case: Guj HC issues notices to two accused cops

Ahmedabad, Feb 15 (PTI) The Gujarat High Court todayissued notices to two cops who are accused in the 2005Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case while hearing an appealby CBI against a lower court order that did not allow it totake voice samples of the two accused.

The Central agency probing the fake encounter case hadsought permission to collect voice samples of two accused,suspended IPS officer Abhay Chudasama and sub-inspector N VChauhan, to compare it with audio-video evidence.

Justice Anant Dave, while hearing the CBI plea todayissued notices to the two accused asking them to respond tothe CBI plea and file their reply by February 22 when the nexthearing is scheduled.

CBI lawyer Y N Ravani submitted that the voice sampleis required as part of evidence gathering exercise.

Last month, CBI sessions court judge G K Upadhyayhad disallowed the CBI from collecting voice samples of theduo. The order was passed while hearing appeals by Chudasamaand Chauhan, against a magisterial court''s order of Octoberlast allowing CBI to collect their voice samples.

CBI wanted the voice samples of Chudasama, Chauhan andN K Amin to verify the voices with some audio-video evidencethat it had. Amin, who wants to become an approver in the casehad already given voice sample for verification. .

The audio-video evidence with the CBI include the recording of conversation between Amin and Chauhan, where thelater was allegedly caught saying that he had heard primeaccused D G Vanzara telling another co-accused RajkumarPandian over the phone that instructions to liquidateSohrabuddin�s wife Kausar Bi came from former Minister ofState for Home Amit Shah.

Another such evidence is the video recording of themeeting between two accused Yashpal Chudasama and Ajay Patelwith two witnesses in the case, builders Raman Patel and hisbrother Dashrat Patel at the city-based Rifle Club. AbhayChudasama was also present during this meeting.

In this audio-video footage, the accused have been caughttrying to influence the witnesses and allegedly directing themhow they should depose before the CBI.