AP: Ex-DGP quizzed in Sohrab case

HYDERABAD: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the Andhra Pradesh ‘angle’ in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter appears to be gathering momentum with former DGP K Aravinda Rao deposing before the CBI Monday.

That the alleged fake encounter case involving Sohrabuddin Sheikh has come back to haunt the state police became evident after the CBI recently summoned DIG, Intelligence, N Balasubrahmanyam and ACP, Shamshabad, Ch Srinivas Rao to Gujarat for questioning.

More officials are likely to depose before the CBI in the coming days.

According to sources, the CBI reportedly sent a notice to Aravinda Rao, the state intelligence chief during late YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s tenure, to personally appear before the agency on Monday.

Accordingly, Rao drove down to the local CBI office at Koti in the morning.A special CBI team from Gujarat arrived in Hyderabad Sunday night and recorded Rao’s statement, sources said. When contacted, Aravinda Rao confirmed that he deposed before the agency.

Monday’s development shook the IPS fraternity as this was the first time that a retired DGP was summoned before the agency.

But sources said that Rao’s questioning has something to do with Balasubrahmanyam’s questioning in Gandhinagar.

“Balasubrahmanyam could have revealed some aspects which could have led the CBI to record Aravinda Rao’s version,” sources said.

It is learnt that Rao told the CBI that though logistical support was provided to the ATS team, like it is done in the case of any visiting police team, the state police had no clue that Sohrabuddin would be killed later. Balasubrahmanyam is said to have provided the logistical support to the Gujarat police team which had picked up Sohrabuddin from Hyderabad following which he was killed allegedly in a fake encounter.

Balasubrahmanyam, then posted as SP, Prakasam, is understood to have booked a room for Gujarat ATS SP Rajkumar Pandian at the IPS officers’s mess in Hyderabad.

Sources said that the CBI is likely to question a few more officers in the next few days and summons have reportedly been sent to some of them.