CP shootout: Hearing begins on cops' pleas

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday began hearing appeals of the 10 police officials who have challenged the life terms awarded to them after they were convicted for shooting down two innocent businessmen in the Connaught Place here 10 years ago.

Appearing before a division bench of Justices BN Chaturvedi and GS Sistani, senior counsel Dinesh Chand Mathur argued for the then assistant commissioner of police (ACP) SS Rathi that the shootout was a case of mistaken identity and not conspiracy.

A city court in October last year held all 10 policemen guilty of gunning down Pradeep Goyal and Jagjit Singh on the Barakhamba Road March 31, 1997.

Mathur argued that the businessmen were killed as they were mistakenly identified as Yaseen, a dreaded Uttar Pradesh gangster, and his associate.

"Yaseen in his disclosure statement had admitted that he was in Delhi near Patparganj in a blue Maruti car, so it was clearly established that the shootout was not a conspiracy," said Mathur.

Besides Rathi, those sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for life included inspector Anil Kumar, sub-inspector Ashok Rana, head constables Shiv Kumar, Tejpal Singh, Mahavir Singh, constables Sumer Singh, Subhash Chand, Sunil Kumar and Kothari Ram.