Ashish Pandya
Ashish Pandya is a Dy.SP in the Indian Police Service, in the state of Gujarat. He came to prominence in the media as the leader of the police force accused of a encounter in the Tulsiram Prajapati killing.
Pandya had fired the bullet which killed Prajapati in December 2006.[1] The discussion about the case described that Pandya managed the logistics or led the encounter with Prajapati.[1][2] In the legal statements witnesses reported that Pandya had discussed the case privately with DIG D. G. Vanzara, a senior police officer who was also a party to the case.[2]
When Pandya was sought for arrest he avoided police capture.[1] The Criminal Investigation Department declared that Pandya had absconded.[1] On 13 May 2010 he turned himself in to the police.[1]
In 2012 Pandya played the role of approver to the court by accusing other people in the case of faults.[3] The court noted this in 2015 when various people arrested in the case made a request for bail.[3]
In May 2015 after Pandya got bail and left the jail he also got permission to rejoin the police force.[4][5] He got a new post as Circle Inspector of police in Bhuj.[4]
In December 2018 Pandya was one of 22 people discharged from the court proceedings.[6]
References
- Gagdekar, Roxy (14 May 2010). "Sohrabuddin case: Absconding PI Ashish Pandya reports for duty, held". DNA India.
- Ansari, Shahab (15 June 2018). "Asked Pandya's family to tell him to contact Vanzara: Witnesses to court". The Asian Age.
- Dayal, Prashant (11 June 2015). "More encounter accused cops want default bail". The Times of India.
- Shaikh, Sarfaraz (2 May 2015). "Ashish Pandya back in service after getting bail". The Times of India.
- Nayudu, Ujjwala (2 May 2015). "Prajapati encounter case: Gujarat Police inspector Ashish Pandya reinstated in service". The Indian Express.
- Press Trust of India (21 December 2018). "The 22 let off the hook in Sohrab case". The Telegraph.