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Journalism of Courage
The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday asked the public prosecutor to take instructions from the state government on the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging appointment of DGP PP Pandey, a key accused in Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case, as in charge police chief recently.
The petition has been filed by former Gujarat DGP Julio Ribeiro through lawyer Rahul Sharma. During a brief hearing senior counsel IH Syed narrated how Pandey was charge sheeted by CBI in 2013 in Ishrat Jahan case along with six other Gujarat police officers. Syed also told the decision bench led by chief justice R Subhash Reddy that during the course of CBI investigation Pandey was also declared proclaimed offender. Following the submission the bench asked the public Prosecuter to take instruction from the state government and listed the matter for further hearing post summer vacation.
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Opposing Pandey’s elevation as police chief, Ribeiro has written in the petition that “Such an additional charge is against the doctrine of public trust, is against the law and the express guidelines of the Supreme Court.” The petition further adds that “he is an accused committed for trial in a case of abduction and premeditated murder.”
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According to the petition “several serving police officers who are witnesses in the criminal case, wherein PP Pandey is a charge sheeted accused are subjected to his authority and influence, which is likely to adversely affect the judicial process of trial. Other witnesses can also get influenced.”
Pandey and six other policemen are accused of killing Ishrat Jahan, Javed Sheikh alias Pranesh Pillai and two Pakistani nationals Zeeshan Johar and Amjadali Rana.
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