In court,supporters rally behind Chudasama

The proceedings on CBI’s remand application started around 3.15 pm in a courtroom,which was full with lawyers,Chudasama’s supporters and mediapersons. The hearing concluded after marathon arguments from lawyers of both sides.Chudasama was visibly disturbed and tired in the courtroom. Initially,he stood in the court. Later,following his request,the court allowed him to sit on a chair. He has undergone a number of operations in his legs.

Subsequently,during the majority portion of the court proceedings,he was seen sleeping in the chair.

After the court pronounced the order to send him to police remand till May 5,Chudasama — through his lawyer Mitesh Amin — requested the court to direct the CBI to interrogate him on ground floor and not on the third floor of the building where he is presently being interrogated in Gandhinagar. Amin suggested that due to his limb injuries,Chudasama is not able to climb stairs time and again.

To this,CBI lawyer L D Tiwari said that the investigating agency operates from the office provided by the state government and so they cannot do anything about it. Tiwari also stated that the CBI had demanded a building on the ground floor but the government alloted them space on the third floor. The court did not consider the request.

Encounters by Chudasama

November 26,2004: UP gangster Sanjay Singh,at Bhilad in Valsad

October 10,2005: Smuggler Haji Ismail at Bhilad in Valsad

August 25,2005: Dacoit Dungaria Machhar at Vapi in Valsad

January 16,2006: Robber Jogindersinh Nakwada at Vapi in Valsad

February 19,2006: Armed robbers Badelal alias Magru Khan and Chhotelal alias Commerade Khan at Vapi in Valsad

September 9,2006: Extortionist Ajay Chaudhary at Vapi in Valsad

May 16,2009: Historysheeter Ghetia alias Subramanium Panirvel Padiyachi at Lambha in Ahmedabad

Sohrabuddin ‘encounter’: Timeline

November 21,2005: Sohrabuddin Sheikh with wife Kauser Bi and friend Tulsi Prajapati picked up from a bus in Andhra Pradesh by Gujarat Police

November 26,2005 : Sohrabuddin gunned down by Gujarat Police near Vishala circle in Ahmedabad,saying he came to kill Modi,Togadia and others

November 28/29,2005: Kauser Bi killed,body burnt and disposed in Ilol,DG Vanzara’s village

November 2005: ATS conducts investigation into encounter,case closed down by filing a summary.

December 2005: Rubabuddin moves SC saying the encounter was fake

July 2006: CID,following SC orders,begins investigations

December 29,2006: Tulsiram Prajapati killed in encounter in Banaskantha

March 30,2007: Rajnish Rai handed over investigations

April 2007: CID submits report in September 2006 saying it is a case of murder and not encounter

April 24,2007: Vanzara,Narendra Amin and Dinesh MN arrested by Rajnish Rai

May 3 2007: Gujarat DGP P C Pande withdraws Rajnish Rai from case,puts Geetha Johari in charge

October 1,2008: SC stays trial against three former senior officers and 10 other policemen

August 3,2009: SC asks Gujarat government why case not be entrusted to SIT

August 4,2009: SC asks Gujarat govt to pay damages to Sohrabuddin’s brother

January 12,2010: SC orders handover of investigations to CBI

April 28,2010: IPS officer Abhay Chudasama arrested by CBI,its first arrest in the case