Vasundhara Raje, who was the chief minister of Rajasthan when Sohrabuddin was killed, had personally met the Rajasthan police team that had participated in his encounter, within a few hours of the encounter, appreciated their work, posed for pictures with them and also announced a reward.
Ms Raje met Rajashthan IPS Dinesh M.N. on November 27, 2005, soon after he arrived from Gujarat after participating in the encounter. They met at the helipad in Udaipur. Sohrabuddin was killed in an encounter by the Gujarat police with help from the Rajasthan police on November 26.
Besides Dinesh M.N., three other Rajasthan policemen were also present. All of them have hence been arrested and are in Sabarmati jail in Gujarat.
“The honourable chief minister appreciated the work done by Dinesh M.N. and his team in killing Sohrabuddin,” IGP Rajeev Dasot has told the CBI.
Mr Dasot was then the IG of Udaipur.
“The chief minister met him, congratulated him and also announced a special award for Dinesh M.N.,” the IG has confessed. Rajeev Dasot, IG Rajasthan, has said in his statement recorded by the CBI under Section 161 that not only did the Rajasthan CM meet Dinesh M.N., she appreciated the work done by him, posed for photographs with him and announced an award for him and the team.
Sohrabuddin was wanted in Hamid Lala murder case in Rajasthan. Dinesh M.N. went to Gujarat to arrest Sohrabuddin on a tip off.
He however, took three other policeman who were not part of the team investigating the Hamid Lala murder.
Rajeev Dasot has said that he found it unusual that senior officer like Dinesh personally wanted to go to Gujarat to arrest Sohrabuddin.
“I found it unusual and ridiculous and even asked him. Dinesh called me just before leaving and told me that Sohrabuddin was a notorious criminal of Rajasthan. I asked him why should a senior person like you, an SP, go to arrest a murder accused. Just send a strong police party. To this Dinesh M.N. said, ‘I am in touch with the Gujarat police and I want to personally go for this arrest.’” Rajeev Dasot says this was unusual but he did not smell anything foul at that time.
Interestingly, before taking permission from his immediate boss, IGP Rajeev Dasot, Dinesh M.N. said he had already taken permission from the DGP Rajasthan at Udaipur helipad. Rajasthan’s divisional commissioner Mr Ramrakhji presented Mr Dinesh and his team of three officers: Abdul Rehman, Himanshu and Shyamsinhgh to the then chief minister Vasundhara Raje.