Tags:
Journalism of Courage
In a move likely to strengthen the CBI case against former Gujarat Minister Amit Shah and police officers accused of staging a 2005 encounter to kill alleged gangster Sohrabuddin Sheikh and later his wife Kausar Bi,former Dy SP N K Amin,an accused in the case,today turned approver and moved court.
Amin sought pardon while offering to become approver. Notice was issued to CBI on his application and Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate A I Raval posted the matter for hearing tomorrow. Citing threat to his life,Amin also pleaded that he be shifted out of the Sabarmati Jail.
Shah also moved court for bail. Sent to judicial custody until August 7,he will remain behind bars since the bail hearing will come up only on August 2.
Leading lawyer Ram Jethmalani,who appeared for Shah,said his client was being victimised by the Central government. The case against Shah,Jethmalani argued,was nothing but a political game by the Congress to tarnish the image of the Gujarat government.
In his bail application,Shah alleged that since the Congress failed to defeat him and his party in the polls,it was using the CBI to frame him in the case.
He claimed that since he had taken over a number of institutions from the control of the Congress like the Gujarat Cricket Association,Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank and Gujarat State Cooperative Bank through democratic means,the Congress had framed him. He also accused the CBI of making selective leaks to the media to tarnish not only his image but also that of the BJP in the state.
