Rajiv Ranjan Verma, 1978 batch Bihar cadre, IPS officer, currently Additional DG, Central Industrial Security Force(CISF) is the new head of the Special Investigation Team(SIT) probing Lashkar-e-Taiyaba terrorist Ihrat Jahan encounter case.

Verma is fourth person named as SIT head.

Angry Gujarat High Court reproached centr for casual approach after consequently third officer JV Ramudu refused to take charge this week. The High Court threatened contempt proceeding if due explanation not given.

Ishrat Jahan and three other alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists — Javed Sheikh alias Pranesh Pillai, Amjad Ali Rana and Zeeshan Johar — were killed on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on June 15, 2004. Rana and Johar were terrorists from Pakistan.

Ministry of Home Affairs Statement on Appointment of SIT Member

The Hon’ble High Court of Gujarat had asked the Ministry of Home Affairs for a panel of three names in place of a member, of Special Investigation Team (SIT) (constituted to investigate the alleged fake encounter of Ishrat Jahan and others), who had expressed his request to be relieved from the panel. Accordingly, Ministry of Home Affairs, in consultation with the concerned State Governments had indicated a panel of officers including Shri J.V. Ramudu, IPS (AP:81), who was placed at second place in an earlier list. And his name had been approved by the High Court on 15th July, 2011.

It was after indicating the fresh panel of names including Shri J.V. Ramudu, IPS at S.No.1 to the High Court of Gujarat that the Ministry of Home Affairs was informed by the Government of A.P. on 17th July, 2011 about the fact that Shri J.V. Ramudu had undergone surgery and required post-operative check ups. The inability of the officer to be a part of SIT on medical grounds was communicated to the Hon’ble High Court.

The medical condition of Shri J.V. Ramudu was brought to the notice of the Ministry of Home Affairs only after his name had been approved by the High Court and Home Ministry had to approach the Hon’ble High Court to nominate another officer from a fresh panel of three names, which has since been accepted by the High Court. Neither the State Government of Andhra Pradesh nor the officer himself had brought to the notice of MHA the inability of the officer to be a part of SIT, although his name had been indicated in the High Court’s order in May, 2011.