Ishrat case: High Court notice to Verma

Ahmedabad: Gujarat high court on Monday issued notice to IPS officer and former investigator in the 2004 Ishrat Jahan encounter case, Satish Verma, in response to an application filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that has objected to provide a copy of the chargesheet in this case to him.
The HC has asked Verma to file his reply by May 16 and till then ordered that the stay earlier granted by a trial court to remain in force.
After the controversy that erupted following revelation by David Coleman Headley about Ishrat, a witness in RVS Mani and former special director of Central IB, Rajinder Kumarm who was implicated in the supplementary chargesheet, spoke to media. Verma demanded copy of the chargesheet basing his argument on suspicion that there could be a miscarriage of justice in this case and he wanted to approach the HC.
In March, a CBI court ordered the registry to supply a copy of the chargesheet to Verma, but later stayed its order after the probe agency sought time to question the court's decision before the HC.
According to CBI's counsel RC Kodekar, Justice BN Karia issued notice after CBI filed an application in the HC on Monday. The CBI has opposed Verma's access to the chargesheet on the ground that Verma is not an investigation officer. He is neither an accused nor a victim of the offence. Since he is not a party to the proceeding, he is not entitled for the copy.
Advocate Kodekar also argued that Verma has not given any reason why he wanted to approach the HC and hence he does not have any locus-standi in this case. He cannot seek further probe or quashing of the chargesheet.