CBI press release on Sohrabuddin case chargesheet

Following is CBI press release on Sohrabuddin case issue released on Friday evening

The Central Bureau of Investigation has filed a charge sheet in the Court of Addl. Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ahmedabad today U/sec. 120-B (Conspiracy) r/w 342 (wrongful confinement), 364 (kidnapping & abducting to murder), 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine a person), 368 (wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement kidnapped or abducted person), 384 (extortion), 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of valuable evidence of offence or giving false information to screen offenders) in the fake encounter of Sohrabbuddin and brutally killing his wife, Kausarbi against the fifteen accused persons.

These accused persons are: DIG of Police; two Supdts. of Police; two Dy. Supdts. of Police; three Police Inspectors; three Sub-Inspectors; DCP, Ahmedabad Crime (Arrested and added by CBI); Minister of State (Home), Gujarat (Added during investigation by CBI, Not arrested; Chairman, ADC Bank (Added during investigation by CBI, Not arrested & Director ADC Bank (Added during investigation by CBI, Not arrested).

The CBI has not found adequate evidence against three accused who were earlier sent for trial. These are: Ajay Parmar, Police Constable, ATS, Ahmedabad; Sant Ram Sharma, Police Constable, ATS, Ahmedabad & B.A.Rathore, Inspector, ATS, Ahmedabad. CBI, therefore, did not include them in its charge sheet.

The Minister of State for Home (Govt. of Gujarat) was issued summons for his appearance before the CBI on 22.07.2010 and 23.07.2010. He did not appear and hence charge sheet was filed without his examination.

The CBI has made a prayer to Court to keep investigation open for further investigation U/sec. 173 (8) Cr.P.C for probing further into the larger conspiracy. The CBI has filed the Charge- sheet within the stipulated period of 90 days after effecting the arrest of one of the accused. The Supreme Court of India had given directions to the CBI to submit its report within six months from the date of handing over the case.

The Supreme Court of India had directed the CBI to look into all aspects of killing of Sohrabbuddin, Kausarbi and also to look into the larger conspiracy. CBI registered a case on Ist February, 2010 U/Sec. 120-B, r/w 365, 368, 302, 201 IPC. Prior to registration of this case by the CBI, the CID Crime Gujarat had filed a charge sheet in the Court against 13 accused persons. One more person was arraigned as accused on the application of a Dy. Supdt. Of Police and DIG of Police, Gurajat.

During the course of investigation, CBI had examined 278 witnesses, collected 191 documents and 70 material objects. The investigation was spread over in 5 States included States of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.