Guj HC reserves order on bail application of Abhay Chudasama

Arguments concluded before Justice Abhilasha Kumari today.

Chudasama is accused by the CBI of being the "henchman" in the conspiracy of not only the encounter, but also that of the extortion racket run at the behest of former Minister Amit Shah.

S V Raju, Chudasama's lawyer, argued that at the time of the encounter he was not present an the spot and there was no direct evidence against him.

But CBI lawyer Yogesh Rawani claimed that all the witnesses had disclosed Chudasama's involvement. Also, he was a high-profile officer and had been accused of intimidating witnesses in the case, Rawani said.

Sohrabuddin and his wife Kauser Bi were allegedly killed by the Gujarat's Anti-Terrorist Squad near Gandhinagar on November 26, 2005 in a fake encounter.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court reserved its order on the bail of another prime accused, former Gujarat Minister of State for Home Amit Shah. Eight accused including Shah are out on bail. The remaining 11, including IPS officers Vanzara, Pandian, Dinesh M N and Chudasama, are in jail.

Chudasama was the first to be arrested by CBI after it took over the probe on SC orders.

Earlier, special CBI court rejected Chudasama's bail application on the ground that he could intimidate witnesses and tamper with the evidence. In the High Court, alongwith CBI, Sohrabuddin's brother Rubabuddin was also allowed to argue against the bail petition.