Ishrat Jahan case: CBI court acquits DG Vanzara, NK Amin in ‘fake’ encounter case

The Central Bureau of Investigation has acquitted former Gujarat police officers DG Vanzara and NK Amin in the 2004 Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case. A CBI court today approved their request for discharge.

The CBI court has dropped the proceeding against the retired officers D G Vanzara and N K Amin and acquitted them of all charges. The special court on April 30 had reserved its verdict on two applications filed by them.

The former cops were charged with the conspiracy, illegal confinement and murder in the Ishrat Jahan case by CBI. Last year, former Gujarat police chief PP Pandey was discharged by the court.

Vinod Gajjar, who represent DG Vanzara said, “The court’s order goes on to establish that the encounter was genuine.” The former cops were charged with the conspiracy, illegal confinement and murder in the Ishrat Jahan case by CBI.

In the petitions filed by the retired officers on March 26, they sought that they “be set free immediately from this case… and (that) further proceeding… needs to be dropped without waiting for anything in furtherance”.

On June 15, 2004, 19-year-old Ishrat Jahan and three others— Javed Shaikh alias Pranesh Pillai, Amjadali Akbarali Rana and Zeeshan Johar, were killed by Gujarat police officers in an alleged fake encounter on the outskirts of Ahmedabad-- saying they were Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists planning to assassinate Narendra Modi, who was then Chief Minister.