Amidst much speculation, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) here on Wednesday commenced interrogation of former Gujarat minister Amit Shah in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case.
Sources confirmed Mr Shah refrained from giving any direct answer to the questions put to him by CBI officials on Wednesday.
The line of Mr Shah’s defence was, “I don’t remember. I don’t know. I was not present so I was not aware.” Wednesday’s questions were focused on state CID investigation and Shorabuddin encounter. The CBI is likely ask the Supreme Court to allow its officials three more months for questioning the accused.
The CBI grilled the former minister for more than four hours inside the Sabarmati Jail. A CBI team started interrogating 46-year-old Shah around 11 am and his quizzing continued till around 3.30 pm. The questioning of Mr Shah, lodged in Tilak barrack of Sabarmati Jail after being arrested last Sunday, is likely to continue on Thursday.
The CBI team was led by Amitabh Thakur, chief investigating officer of the case. The entire questioning process was video graphed as per the court directive. “The court has permitted the agency to interrogate the accused lodged in Central Jail from July 28 to 30. Meanwhile, after interrogation in the jail, the CBI is likely to seek the police custody of Mr Shah for further grilling. “We will seek his police custody at later stage for detailed interrogation,” official involved in the investigation said.
Sources claimed investigators have prepared questions based on the statements of witnesses and police officials on his exact role. Moreover, the investigators have also got details of call records of some accused police officials who were constantly in touch with the former minister prior to, during and after the encounter and killing of Kauser Bi.