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The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a public interest litigation petition seeking quashing of criminal prosecution, suspension and other action taken against Gujarat police in the 2004 alleged fake encounter killing of Ishrat Jahan. The apex court’s decsion came in view of the recent testimony of jailed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative David Headley.
“What is the purpose of Article 32. You cannot file such a case under it. If you wish, you can go to the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution,” a Bench, comprising Justices PC Ghose and Amitava Roy, said minutes after lawyer ML Sharma started arguments in the case.
However, the Bench clarified that it was not dismissing the petition on merits when Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought a clarification on the issue.
“Any person having locus standi can approach the appropriate authority,” the Bench said, paving the way for the affected Gujarat policemen, including then DIG DG Vanzara, to move the court for their exoneration in the politically sensitive case.
The plea seeking quashing of action taken against Gujarat police refers to the statement of David Headley, recorded before a Mumbai court that Jahan was a LeT operative.
Gujarat police personnel, including Vanzara, are facing trial in a Mumbai court for their alleged role in the encounter.
The plea, which cited the recent statements recorded by Headley, who allegedly conspired with LeT in plotting the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, said the facts are now undisputed that all four persons killed by the Gujarat police, including Ishrat Jahan, were terrorists.
The plea had sought a direction to close criminal proceedings and action taken in FIRs lodged by the CBI against the Gujarat police personnel and others, saying it was unconstitutional within the judicial facts and evidences of Headley.
It had also sought a direction from the court declaring that killing of a terrorist is not an offence under Indian law and proper compensation be paid to the state police personnel in the interest of justice.
It also wanted initiation of suo motu perjury/contempt proceedings against then Home Minister and CBI Director for concealing true facts before the Supreme Court and the Gujarat High Court and for filing a false affidavit pertaining to facts about the case.
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