Former police officer N K Amin, an accused in the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case, today turned an approver and moved court. A shot in the arm for CBI, the move could spell more trouble for Gujarat’s jailed former minister and key accused Amit Shah.
Shah, a former minister of state for home, was arrested yesterday after remaining elusive for four days. He has also moved the court for bail claiming innocence.He was sent to judicial custody till August 7 and will remain behind bars since the bail hearing would come up only on August 2. Eminent criminal lawyer Ram Jethmalani is appearing for Shah.Amin — a former ex-deputy superintendent of police — also sought pardon while offering to become an approver. Notice was issued to CBI on Amin’s application and Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate
A I Raval posted the hearing in this matter for tomorrow. Amin also pleaded to be shifted out of Sabarmati jail citing threat to his life.
In another development, Raval granted CBI the permission to interrogate Shah in Sabarmati Jail between July 28 and 30 in connection with the case, but only after providing the BJP leader a copy of the probe agency’s chargesheet.The jail authorities were also directed to record the interrogation — in both audio and video formats..
The bail application was filed in the court of special CBI Judge G K Upadhaya for which final hearing will be held on August 2, said Nanavati.
Shah, Amin and the other 13 accused face charges of criminal conspiracy, murder, kidnapping and extortion in connection with the killing of alleged gangster Sohrabuddin Sheikh in a fake encounter on November 26, 2005.