Vanzara files Rs 101-crore defamation suit against Mufti

Retired IPS officer D G Vanzara today filed a defamation case against Mufti Abdul Qayyum Mansuri, who recently published his memoirs after being acquitted by the Supreme Court in the 2002 Akshardham temple attack case, seeking damages of Rs 101 crore.
Additional Sessions Judge J V Pandya issued notices to Mansuri and five others, posting further hearing to July 31.
Other respondents named by Vanzara are Jamiat-e-Ulema of Maharashtra, Jamiat-e-Ulema of Ahmedabad, Madrassa Tarbiyatul Atfal of Ahmedabad, Rasulbhai Moonlight and Maulvi Nizammudin.
Vanzara is a prime accused in the Ishrat Jahan and Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter killing cases and is currently on bail.

He alleges that Mansuri's book, 'Gyarah Saal Salankho Ke Peechhe' (11 Years Behind The Bars), defames him.
The trial court had held Mansoori guilty and awarded him the capital punishment, which was upheld by the Gujarat High Court, Vanzara's petition points out, and contends that therefore the probe could not be said to have been conducted with malafide intentions.

"Mansuri's book is a part of a larger conspiracy to discourage other patriotic police officers who fight against terrorism. It is nothing but an attempt to victimise me. This book contains stories which are totally false, baseless, anti-national and defamatory in nature," the petition says.

In particular, Vanzara has refuted Mansuri's claim that he was abducted by the city crime branch on August 17, 2003, and was tortured by "Vanzara & Company".
"In many cases, accused are acquitted by the Supreme Court or death penalty has been revoked....It does not mean that police officers have conducted a false probe," Vanzara has said.