Haren Pandya’s widow writes to Modi for re-investigation of murder case

The two-page letter has cited the statement of Azam Khan,a close aide of Sohrabuddin and now a key witness Haren Pandya’s widow writes to Modi for re-probe into murder in the encounter case,given to CBI. Khan reportedly told CBI that Chudasama had promised Sohrabuddin to save him in the Pandya murder case.

According to Jagruti,Khan’s statement suggested that either Sohrabuddin knew details of Pandya’s murder or Chudasama himself was involved in the crime.

Another point she has raised is that Vanzara had helped the main conspirator in the case,Mufti Sufiyan,to flee Gujarat. She alleged that he had personally escorted Sufiyan to the Bangladesh border.

Pandya and Modi had become arch rivals after the former refused to vacate his Assembly seat to enable Modi to contest his maiden election in 2001. This had cost Pandya party ticket in the 2002 Assembly elections.

But Jagruti said she has written to Modi instead of approaching CBI or the Supreme Court,because the BJP is in power in the state and the family was part of the party. “We are part of the BJP parivar,” she said,adding that she will explore other legal possibilities if she does not get a positive response to her letter.

Case history
Pandya was shot dead from point-blank range near Law Gardens in Ahmedabad on March 26,2003. His father,Vithal Pandya,had alleged it was a political murder.

Vanzara,who was heading the Ahmedabad Crime Branch at that time,had led the investigation for the first three days before CBI took over the case on March 29. In May 2007,nine people,including hit man Asghar Ali,were awarded life imprisonment by a POTA Court after CBI concluded that he was killed by extremist groups to avenge the 2002 riots.

CBI could not arrest main conspirator Mufti Sufiyan,a cleric of Lal Masjid in Ahmedabad,who had allegedly given Ali the contract to eliminate Pandya. A Red Corner notice was issued against Sufiyan. A year later,his wife and son also disappeared from Ahmedabad. According to sources,Vanzara had helped CBI to catch Ali from Hyderabad on April 17,2003.