Sohrabuddin Sheikh case: D G Vanzara gets a clean chit from CBI, released after 8 years in prison

Retired IPS officer and former Gujarat ATS chief D G Vanzara and Rajasthan-cadre IPS officer Dinesh MN have been released from jail after getting a clean chit from CBI in a case related to the death of gangster Sohrabuddin Sheikh, who was allegedly killed in a fake encounter. Vanzara was also found not-guilty in the death of Sheikh's wife Kausar Bi, and associate, Tulsiram Prajapati.

The court further said that there was no prima facie material to prove Vanzara's involvement in the fake encounter of the gangster and his family. With this, 15 of the 38 accused have been dropped or discharged from the case. The CBI had submitted that since the men had exceeded their official call of duty, there was no need to obtain sanction to prosecute them. The CBI had earlier suggested that Sohrabuddin was killed in a staged encounter by Gujarat police. His wife and accomplice were killed later to finish off with the eyewitnesses.

On Tuesday, the court held that there was no evidence of ash, sand etc to prove that Kausar Bi's body was burnt. However, Gujarat CID, which investigated the case had claimed that Kausar Bi's ashes were thrown in the Narmada river. On Vanzara, the court observed, "In fact, even the prosecution has not whispered (on) the presence of this accused at the spot, on the date and time of abduction, followed by the killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, Tulsiram Prajapati and Kausar Bi." The further observed that the CBI depended on heresys to build a case. It said, “It is seen from the entire record of the case that there is no sufficient evidence on facts to indicate that there was meeting of minds between accused and the other accused to abduct and kill… Even their (witness) statements, do not in any way directly implicate the accused in the fake encounters."

The evidences against Dinesh too were insufficient to prove his presence in the fake encounter. Reacting to the news, Vanzara said, "I have been saying since the beginning that all these encounters were genuine. They were not fake. Now, when I am finally discharged by the court, it is now established that I was framed in false cases. This judgment vindicated my stand about encounters. Whatever happened in the past is now past. I do not want to say anything about it. I just want to say thanks to the judiciary, which had always been fair to me. Though justice is delayed, it is not denied."

Speaking on his tenure in prison, Vanzara said,“It was indeed very painful to spend almost eight years behind bars. It was nothing short of torture. I lost eight golden years behind bars and also retired during my imprisonment. But, I have left everything behind now. Past is past. I take life positively. I have a very high regard for judiciary, as I was given relief by it in the past too. I am sure that I will get similar justice in the Ishrat case. I am also confident that other officers would get justice eventually."

Vanzara is still facing murder charges in the Ishrat Jahan case as the trial is pending. Meanwhile, Sohrabuddin's brother, Rubabuddin Shaikh, expressing his unhappiness with the judiciary and the CBI, said its amusing what the agencies have been doing till now. "How can someone who has spent years in jail be discharged like this on a technicality,” he said, speaking to the Indian Express. He also threatened to go to higher court for justice. 

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