The CBI today challenged in the the Gujarat High Court a special court's order disallowing the probe agency from taking voice samples of two accused in the 2005 Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case.
The Central agency probing the high-profile case has sought permission to collect voice samples of suspended IPS officer Abhay Chudasama and Sub-Inspector N V Chauhan to compare them with audio-video evidence.
The CBI's plea is likely to be heard next week. Last month, CBI Sessions Court Judge G K Upadhyay, while hearing appeal of Chudasama and Chauhan, had restrained the agency from collecting their voice samples.
Judge Upadhyay had passed the order while hearing their appeal against a Magisterial Court's order of last October that had allowed CBI to collect their voice samples.
The lawyer representing the two had argued that a Magisterial Court did not have powers to permit the premier agency to collect voice samples of the accused.
CBI wanted voice samples of Chudasama, Chauhan and co-accused N K Amin to verify audio-video evidence with it. Amin, a former police officer, who wants to turn an approver in the case, has already given his voice sample for verification. The evidence includes the recording of a purported conversation between Amin and Chauhan.
{{/usCountry}}CBI wanted voice samples of Chudasama, Chauhan and co-accused N K Amin to verify audio-video evidence with it. Amin, a former police officer, who wants to turn an approver in the case, has already given his voice sample for verification. The evidence includes the recording of a purported conversation between Amin and Chauhan.
{{/usCountry}}In the tape, Chauhan is allegedly caught saying he had heard prime accused, IPS officer D G Vanzara telling another co-accused Rajkumar Pandian over the phone that instructions to liquidate Sohrabuddin's wife Kausar Bi came from former Minister of State for Home Amit Shah.
Another evidence is the video recording of a meeting between two accused, Yashpal Chudasama and Ajay Patel, with two witnesses in the case, builders Raman Patel and his brother Dashrat, at the city-based Rifle Club. Chudasama was also present during the meeting. In this footage, accused have been caught trying to influence the witnesses and allegedly directing them on deposing before the CBI.