Pandey remanded in CBI custody

Pandey,who is among the seven chargesheeted accused in the Ishrat Jahan and three others encounter case,had surrendered before this court on August 13 after absconding for almost three months.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate H S Khutwad granted five days remand following the CBI’s request to interrogate Pandey for 14 days. The CBI had sought his custody on the ground that Pandey is a key accused and the agency needed to know the source of an intelligence input which he passed on to his juniors in 2004. Pandey was posted as the joint commissioner of police at Detection of Crime Branch,Ahmedabad.

Apart from Pandey,CBI chargesheeted six policemen,including IPS officer G L Singhal and DSP N K Amin. They were charged with conspiracy,kidnapping,illegal confinement and killing of Ishrat Jahan,Javed Sheikh,Zeeshan Johar and Amjadali Rana.

Pandey’s lawyer Ajay Choksi had contended the CBI’s ground stating that Pandey has been chargesheeted and hence,there was no need for his custodial interrogation. The magistrate rejected the contention. With PTI inputs