The Supreme Court on Friday allowed senior Gujarat police officer PP Pandey time till Monday to appear before a trial court in the Ishrat Jahan encounter killing.
Pandey, along with another Gujarat top cop, was named as an accused in the chargesheet filed by the CBI before a trial court in Ahmedabad. As warrants were issued to secure his presence in the case on June 21 this year, Pandey apprehended his arrest by CBI and approached the apex court for protection.
On July 12, the Supreme Court had dismissed a petition by Pandey for quashing the FIR against him and to set aside the charge sheet filed on July 4 this year.
Senior advocate Jaspal Singh, who appeared for Pandey, requested the apex court to be allowed to surrender on a date and time to be fixed by the bench. ASG Indira Jaising, who appeared for CBI, objected to this demand.
While allowing Pandey to appear on Monday before the trial court, the Bench assured the CBI that its order was to facilitate compliance of the trial court order. But in the event he failed to show up, protection granted against Pandey’s arrest would cease, the Bench said.