Sadiq Jamal encounter: Cop claims no evidence against him, seeks discharge from trial

The court has issued notice to CBI for filing its reply.

An accused policeman in 2003 Sadiq Jamal Mehtar fake encounter case has moved an application before a CBI special court seeking discharge from trial.

The accused K M Vaghela, a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP), has claimed that there is no tangible evidence against him in the case and therefore, he should be exonerated.

Vaghela, who is one of the police witnesses in Ishrat Jahan encounter case, is among the eight police officials chargesheeted by the CBI in December 2012 for conspiracy, kidnapping and killing Bhavnagar youth Sadiq Jamal in a staged encounter in Ahmedabad.

[related-post]

Story continues below this ad

He was granted bail earlier this year from the case on the ground that he didn’t play an overt role in the encounter.

”There is no tangible evidence for trying Vaghela in court. The material evidence does not show that he played any role except that he was involved in the conspiracy. But this allegation has no evidence,” said Vaghela’s lawyer Virat Popat.

The court has issued notice to CBI for filing its reply.

On Saturday the matter was adjourned as the CBI didn’t file its reply on the same.

Story continues below this ad

Seven accused policemen are out on bail in this case while the eighth accused retired DySP Tarun Barot’s bail plea is pending with the special court.

Vaghela was arrested twice by CBI in Sadiq and Ishrat Jahan case. In Ishrat Jahan case Vaghela testified against his seniors retired IPS D G Vanzara among others while implicating two politicians.

Vaghela held the post of a police inspector when the encounters took place.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram