Gujarat shielding cop linked to Ishrat Jehan case, claims CBI

Ahmedabad: The CBI says that a senior police officer in Gujarat has gone underground and is being protected by the state government, which says it does not know where the cop is.

PP Pande, who is currently serving as an Additional Director General (ADG), is one of the police officers accused of killing Mumbai student Ishrat Jehan and three others in a fake encounter in 2004. The cops had then claimed that the four were terrorists who were planning to assassinate Chief Minister Narendra Modi.  

Later enquiries established that the police had lied, and had shot the group in the hope of being rewarded with medals and promotions.

The CBI was asked to take over the case in December 2011. The agency says it has been trying to interrogate Mr Pande, but can't locate him.

Sources say today, CBI officials may file a formal complaint in the Gujarat High Court against the government for providing cover for the officer.

Last week, a local court turned down the CBI's request to sanction an arrest warrant for the policeman.

The state government has reportedly told the agency that ADG Pande has been on sick leave for a week.

The CBI now plans to file a review petition in the Special CBI Court, challenging the rejection of arrest warrant for Mr Pande.