In a major breakthrough that can tighten the noose over Amit Shah and diminish his chances of obtaining bail, the arrested minister’s close confidant N.K. Amin filed an application in a CBI court emphasising that he wants to be an approver in the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case.
Dr K. Amin’s change of heart can spell doom for many since he is one of the person involved from the primary to the execution and cover up state of the encounter. Once upon a time not long ago, Dr Amin was Amit Shah’s closest confidant.
The minister spoke to him over 32 times in five days during the encounter drama. Dr Amin is in Sabarmati prison since the last 40 months and is reportedly fed up and wants to get over this murky event.
Dr Amin had the reputation of being a brave encounter specialist, having even fired at a mob in Hyderabad, killing one person, when the Gujarat police went to pick up alleged plotters of post-Godhra reprisals. In jail, Amin and super cop Vanzara are said to have fought openly. Dr Amin reportedly could have administered some sedative or medicine to Kauser Bi.
Dr Amin, one of the accused cops has stated in his application filed in a special CBI court that he is willing to be approver provided the court grants him pardon on the condition that he will depose as witness spilling the beans in the encounter case. Amit Shah’s lawyer told this newspaper, “Dr Amin has been lured by CBI because the CBI does not have any evidence.”
“He will help is in unravelling the mystery of Kauser Bi’s murder which was allegedly ordered by the former minister Amit Shah following Sohrabuddin’s murder in fake encounter in 2005,” a senior CBI official said. He added that with Amin’s deposition and other evidence gathered during the course of investigation, the prosecution agency can prepare a watertight case against the accused minister and other police officials.
Meanwhile, CBI is also working on other “soft targets” like Geetha Johri and ex IPS GC Raigar to become witness in the case. “If Johri and Raigar become prosecution witness and give details of who tried to bear pressure on them during investigation, serious charge of destruction of evidence against Shah and others can be proved,’ the official added.
“We are willing to let go lower level policemen accused in the case because they merely followed the instruction of their bosses. But such accused have to help the prosecution in the case,” the CBI official added, hinting that other such accused may be made approver.
Moreover, CBI is also trying to make Ajay Patel and Yashpal Chudasama, both associates of Amit Shah, as witness in the case because that will help the agency in establishing charge of extortion against the former minister and other police officials like Abhay Chudasama and DG Vanjara.
“We have a witness stating that he had paid rs 70 lakh to Amit Shah, Rs 60 lakh to Vanjara and Rs 40 40 lakh to Abhay Chudasama. On behalf of Shah, Ajay Patel had received the money and delivered to Shah,” a CBI official said.