Ramudu too unwilling to take up post of Ishrat SIT chief

J V Ramudu said he was unwilling to take charge owing to 'ill-health'.

The appointment of the head of Special Investigation Team to probe the death of college student Ishrat Jahan in an allegedly fake encounter with Gujarat police appears to be jinxed as a third IPS officer expressed unwillingness to take up the job.

J V Ramudu,an officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre who was appointed by the Gujarat High Court as chief of SIT probing the encounter case,said he was unwilling to take charge owing to ‘ill-health’.

“I cannot take the charge of new job due to health reasons. I was on a long leave as I had undergone a surgery,” Ramudu told PTI over telephone from Hyderabad.

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“My consent was not taken prior to the decision on appointment. What I have come to know is that only yesterday they have sought consent of the AP state government on the issue,” he said.

The Gujarat high court had only yesterday relieved chief of SIT probing Ishrat Jahan encounter case Satyapal Singh and appointed 1981 batch IPS officer J V Ramudu in his place.

Assistant Solicitor General Pankaj Champanari,appearing for the union government in the case,had informed the court yesterday that consent of Ramudu and state where he is serving was taken and he was ready to take up the job.

Based on his assurance,the court relieved Singh and had appointed Ramudu.

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Ramudu was the third SIT chief appointed by the Gujarat High Court. Delhi cadre IPS officer Karnail Singh was appointed the first head of the SIT a year ago but relieved by the court. The court had then appointed Maharashtra Cadre IPS officer Satyapal Singh who was relieved yesterday.

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