Sadiq encounter: Barot sent to 2-day CBI custody

Barot’s production before the court was a reminder of the arrest of D G Vanzara in 2007 in Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case when his supporters had similarly thronged the court premises and raised slogans against the CBI.

Soon after Barot was produced before the court,CBI counsel Eyaz Khan demanded five days custody of Barot citing the case as “peculiar” which has inter-state ramifications (Maharashtra and Gujarat).

CBI in its remand application claimed that the accused needs further interrogation to “ascertain the modus operandi,role played by co-accused and to recover the incriminating material used in commissioning the crime”.

The CBI also claimed that Barot needed to be examined further “to unearth the deep rooted conspiracy”.

However,senior advocate Rohit Verma,who appeared in defence of Barot,told the court that the case is “comedy of errors,absurd and hilarious”. He said the reason behind taking Barot into custody didn’t have sufficient grounds as he was not even named in the original FIR. He also said nine years after the incident what incriminating materials CBI would collect now.

The magistrate A Y Dave,after considering the applications and arguments for about 30 minutes,remanded custody for two days till September 28. The judge said the grounds for custody was found to be reasonable and “since the case is of serious nature and the present accused happens to be a protector (police),he needs to be examined further like any other accused”.

The CBI has to complete the probe and file a report in the case before the Gujarat High Court on October 2.

‘CBI threatened me to become witness’

When special CBI judge asked Barot whether he was beaten up by CBI officials,he said “no”,but added that the agency threatened him to become a witness in the case.

“On more than five occasions when CBI officials called me for questioning between 2011 and 2012,I kept telling them that I had nothing to do with the case.. When they arrested me on Tuesday,they told me ‘Sakshi ban jao nahi to shaheed bana denge (become a witness otherwise we will make you a martyr)’,” he told the court.

His lawyer Rohit Verma said Barot met several senior CBI officers in Delhi claiming his innocence. “Barot has nothing to do with the case but there is a group which is behaving vindictive to him and as a result of which he has been arrested,” Verma said while challenging CBI’s remand application.

Traders bat for cop,down shutters

Traders in Bapunagar area of Ahmedabad observed a bandh on Wednesday to register their protest against the arrest of Mehsana deputy superintendent of police Tarun Barot in connection with the Sadiq Jamal encounter case.

Nearly 1,500 traders shut their shops and took out a rally shouting slogans against the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). They carried posters and banners reading “Gundao gail ma,adhikario jail ma” (Goons are having fun,officers are going to jails)”.

They marched up to the special CBI court and shouted slogans in the court premises. However,after the court proceedings started,they were asked to leave the premises as the demonstration led to chaos.

Bhavesh Soni,a trader,said,“Barot is an honest and patriotic officer. He shouldn’t have been arrested like a goon. In Gujarat,police officers are increasingly paying for encounters of goons who harmed our society. He (Barot) has been our saviour. He has saved us from several goons. We oppose his arrest.”

Barot’s father Amrat,who was supported by the traders,said,“The CBI had been harassing him. They (CBI) had called him even after recording his statements twice,and as he entered the office,they arrested him. He is one of the brightest and toughest cops of the Gujarat Police. The government gave him several rewards for his service. Then how can an officer who won rewards and appreciation for his work be an accused for the central agency?”