Look out for ‘absconding’ Pandey: DGP to all cops

Pandey,who was absconding for three months before he surfaced on July 29 before the CBI court on a stretcher pleading he was indisposed,was last seen Tuesday when he made a brief appearance before the same court,this time on a wheelchair. He “disappeared” just before the court rejected his anticipatory bail plea.

Pathak told The Indian Express that following CBI’s request,a letter was issued to all districts as well as commissionerates across the state to look for Pandey. He said since Pandey is an accused and a proclaimed absconder,the state police has started assisting CBI in nabbing him.

“The letter directs increase of vigilance at railway stations,airports,check posts,nakabandis to look for Pandey. It further says that if Pandey is spotted,action should be taken in accordance with the law,” a Superintendent of Police who received the letter,said. Interestingly,Pandey was posted as ADGP CID (Crime and Railways),a wing of police that looks out for absconding criminals.

The CBI had sought similar assistance from the state police in May just before the court declared him proclaimed absconder in June. In its first chargesheet filed on July 3 in the Ishrat Jahan encounter case on June 15,2004,the CBI named him as one of the conspirators. According to CBI sources,they have also moved a request to Delhi and Uttar Pradesh police against Pandey. On July 29 Pandey surfaced at Chandramani,a private hospital,located at Shahibaug for treatment of chest pain and other ailments. Following Gujarat High Court’s intervention he appeared before a Special CBI court that granted him anticipatory bail for two days.

August 6 was the last day when he was seen at the CBI court and went missing again,the day his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by Special CBI court. On August 7,the Gujarat HC also upheld the CBI court’s decision. Meanwhile,a CBI court issued non-bailable warrant against him after he failed to appear before it. Soon after that CBI launched a hunt to nab Pandey.

Pandey moved the Supreme Court on Thursday challenging the HCs decision and requesting interim relief. However,the apex court rejected his plea.