NOD TO PROSECUTE IG ZAIDI, 8 OTHERS
Almost three months after the CBI filed a charge sheet in the custodial death of an accused in the Kotkhai rape and murder case, the state government has approved the prosecution of IG Zahur Zaidi and eight others.
Almost three months after the CBI filed a chargesheet in the custodial death of an accused in the Kotkhai rape and murder case, the state government has approved the prosecution of IG Zahur Zaidi and eight others.
The CBI had sought sanction for the prosecution of officials who were part of the SIT constituted to probe the case in July last year. The probe agency had submitted a charge sheet on November 25, and mentioned that it was awaiting the state’s nod to prosecute. The government on Wednesday gave its approval.
In a chargesheet filed on November 25, the central probe agency also accused the SIT, headed by inspector general of police (IG) Zahur Zaidi — who is presently suspended— of a cover-up following the death of Nepalese national Suraj Singh in police custody on July 18.
The CBI also said that Suraj Singh was tortured to “extract” a confession, and another man arrested by the SIT was forced at gunpoint to admit his involvement in the crime.
“After the formation of the SIT, IG Zahur Zaidi, the then Shimla SP DW Negi, Theog deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Manoj Joshi and other accused police officers entered into a criminal conspiracy to falsely implicate Suraj Singh and others,” the CBI’s charge sheet said.
The CBI has arrested nine police officers, including Zaidi, former Shimla SP DW Negi and then DSP Theog Manoj Joshi and few other cops in the case.
According to the chargesheet, the SIT arrested Suraj Singh and four others on July 13, a week after the girl’s body was found, even though there was no evidence against them.