Sohrabuddin killing: Decision on cop’s plea to turn approver Oct 7

GANDHINAGAR - The Gujarat High Court Monday reserved its order till Oct 7 on jailed police officer N.K. Amin’s plea to turn approver in the 2005 Sohrabuddin Sheikh staged shootout case.

The matter was referred to the high court by a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court seeking its decision on the constitutional validity of Amin’s plea.

The CBI took the stand that it had no objection to suspended deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Amin, who is an accused in the Sohrabuddin case, becoming an approver.

Amin had filed an application to become approver and asked the court for pardon in the case under section 306 of the CrPC.

Eight co-accused including suspended IPS officers D.G. Vanzara, Rajkumar Pandian and Dinesh M.N. raised objections to such application.

Amin was assistant commissioner of police before being arrested in 2007 in connection with Sohrabuddin Sheikh’s killing in an allegedly staged shootout.

His application came one day after the CBI arrested former Gujarat minister of state for home Amit Shah in the staged shootout case.

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has been accused of killing Sheikh in a staged shootout Nov 26, 2005, in Ahmedabad. His wife Kauserbi is suspected to have been killed at a farm near the city two days later.