In a setback for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI),the Gujarat HC on Tuesday granted anticipatory bail to Yashpal Chudasama and Ajay Patel,accused in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. Justice R H Shukla passed the order. Both Chudasama and Patel are senior office-bearers at the Ahmedabad District Co-operative Bank. They had moved HC with bail plea after the CBI court had rejected it. The duo had been evading arrest in the case ever since the CBI submitted its chargesheet on July 23,where it had named the duo as accused. The CBI had procured non-bailable warrant against them. The duos lawyer,J M Panchal,had contended that as per the chargesheet the maximum charge that emerges out against them is that of attempt to tamper with the evidence which is bailable. Panchal had added that despite this,the CBI has charged them with non-bailable offences like murder and criminal conspiracy. He also argued that their alleged role has come to light only after the investigation was handed over to CBI in January. And so,they are not connected with the original offence of abduction and murders of Sohrabuddin and Kausar Bi. The CBI counsel said that they will move the Supreme Court against the order.
