NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court will hear a plea, made in view of the recent testimony of LeT operative David Headley, seeking the quashing of criminal prosecution, suspension and other actions taken against Gujarat cops in the 2004 alleged fake encounter killing of Ishrat Jehan on March 11.
The matter was mentioned for urgent hearing before a bench comprising Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice U U Lalit on March 1. The plea refers to the Pakistani-American terrorist’s statement before a Mumbai court that Ishrat was a Lashkar operative. Gujarat police personnel, including then DIG D G Vanzara, are facing trial in a Mumbai court over the killing. The timing of the petition assumes significance as the Ministry of Home Affairs has agreed to dig up files on the 2004 case to verify former Home Secretary G K Pillai’s claims of political meddling.
The petition has sought suo motu contempt action against former Home Minister P Chidambaram for perjury and misleading the apex court and the Gujarat High Court on Ishrat’s alleged terror links.