New Delhi, August 10
The Supreme Court today reserved its verdict on the Gujarat government’s petition for cancelling the bail of its cop Narendra K. Amin, who is accused of involvement in the Sohrabuddin fake encounter conspiracy and alleged burning of the body of his wife, Kausarbi, who was killed in custody.

The state CID special investigating team (SIT) probing the case, has sought custodial interrogation of Amin, a DSP rank officer, and cancellation of his anticipatory bail granted by trial judge.

But Amin’s counsel, senior advocate Nageshwar Rao, tried to prove from the material on record that he was being “framed up” in the case for his refusal to become a witness to “fix” the other three IPS officers, D G Vanzara, Rajkumar Pandiyan and M N Dinesh.

In this context he read the conversation between Amin and the investigating officer (IO) of the rank of an inspector, who questioned him for 54 hours in four days.

The conversation, according to Rao, gave a clear impression that the IO was being pressurised to make Amin a witness. The IO had clearly told Amin that “madam (Geeta Johri) wants that those who are inside (jail) are fixed… she says you are not involved… if you say so you will not be remanded,” Rao read out from the recorded examination of Amin by the IO.

He further pointed out that the IO had told Amin clearly that he was a “small man” and could not do any thing and had narrated the facts to him. But he (IO) was in constant touch with Johri and another senior officers under her, probing the case.

The Gujarat government counsel K.T.S Tulsi admitted that there was no “direct” evidence against Amin but a constable Nathubhai Jadeja, an accused in the case, had named him in his statement, specially about his role in cremating Sohrabuddin’s wife, who was killed in custody.

Jadeja had later retracted his statement, which according to Tulsi had been done due to threat from Amin, who holds the rank of a DSP. Tulsi claimed that Amin was very much involved in the case and his custodial interrogation was necessary and, therefore, the anticipatory bail granted to him by the trial judge should be set aside.