Stepping up offensive against Narendra Modi, the Congress on Monday said he was a "potential accused" in the Tulsiram Prajapati murder case and should be interrogated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal also demanded the arrest and interrogation of Parag Shah, who was earlier working in the Gujarat CM's office, claiming he had detailed talks with the police officer concerned who allegedly executed the murder of Prajapati. Sibal said it is clear from the "circumstantial evidence" that Modi's office was fully in the know as to what was happening in the "conspiracy to eliminate" Prajapati in the fake encounter that took place December 26, 2006.
"This evidence has come for the first time, which shows that the chief minister's office was directly involved in what was happening" with regard to the encounters, Sibal said, submitting call detail records of conversation between Parag with Rajkumar Pandian, who "planned and executed the murder of Prajapati".
He said Parag, who was appointed officer on special duty (IT) in the chief minister's office, was also "associated with cyber cell of the anti-terrorist squad. "Parag was also PA to senior BJP leader L K Advani from June to December 1998, when he was the union home minister," Sibal stated in the press note which, he said, also carries details of CBI charge sheet into the fake encounter cases.
"There can hardly be any doubt that the chief minister must have been aware of the Prajapati encounter carried out by the police officers working in the ATS led by DIG DG Vanzara."
Sibal said it is clear from the "circumstantial evidence" that Modi's office was fully in the know as to what was happening in the "conspiracy to eliminate" Prajapati in the fake encounter that took place December 26, 2006. "Modi is a potential accused. The circumstantial evidence is clear. We are wondering why the CBI has not arrested Parag Shah and why Modi has not been interrogated. The nation needs to know. The CBI needs to answer. Courts in India should ensure that a proper investigation takes place with the interrogation and arrest of Parag Shah and the summoning of Modi for interrogation," he said.
