In SC,Johri gets back at CBI: Wants us to frame political targets

Johri,who herself had probed the 2005 fake encounter,was questioned by the CBI for over eight hours on Thursday.

In another startling allegation,Johri says in her petition that the third person picked up along with Sohrabuddin and his wife Kauser Bi from the bus coming from Hyderabad could not be Tulsiram Prajapati but is one Kalimuddin,who she says is a member of banned People’s War Group. She says Kalimuddin is probably now under the protection of the Andhra Pradesh Police since he is their informer and a key intelligence asset. Johri’s claim is at odds with the CBI chargesheet in the case,which says Prajapati too was picked up from the same bus.

Johri has also sought the removal of Balwinder Singh from the CBI team which is supervising the investigations now.She details how the Andhra Police,including Balwinder who was the then Hyderabad Police Commissioner,had stonewalled the Gujarat Police’s efforts to seek details of the seven Andhra Police officers who allegedly accompanied Sohrabuddin and Kauser Bi along with the Gujarat Police officers before the encounter. Johri now says absconding Kalimuddin is same as one Nayimuddin wanted by the Gujarat Police in the murder of former home minister Haren Pandya.

In her curative petition,Johri has sought the remarks made by the SC against her for her “lapses” in the investigation be expunged and deleted. Making a case that they were incorrect,Johri points out they were made by Justice Tarun Chatterjee who was under investigation in the PF scam.

Johri says it is because of the adverse remarks by the SC that the CBI is treating her in this manner. She adds that the CBI is pressuring her to back its theory and she would be unharmed. The CBI has,through physical threats,asked her personal assistant,one Raju Acharya,to issue statements against her,she alleges.

Johri has been questioned three times so far,the last being on Thursday,and is expected to be questioned yet again on Saturday.

In her petition,she also mentions that the amicus curiae in the case is not favourably disposed towards her,which she says led to the SC making adverse remarks against her. Her review petition seeking to expunge the remarks earlier were summarily dismissed by the SC.

Johri,in her petition,also says at no time during the investigation or afterwards was she pressured by any higher authority including any minister.