Friday, Aug 2, 2013, 1 | Place: Ahmedabad | Agency: DNA

Builder Shrenik Shah claims he was forced to file false complaint against PI VL Solanki probing Sohrab case.

In a startling revelation, Shrenik Shah, a builder, on Thursday said some government officials had approached him to file a false complaint against retired police inspector VL Solanki. Shah is also a witness in a complaint filed against suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt and had recorded his statement under Section 164 CrPC in the case.

But, after the complaint was filed, the officials failed to fulfill their promise. So, Shah submitted an affidavit at Chandkheda police station, saying he would withdraw the complaint against Solanki and may also retract the statement against Bhatt.

A complaint had been filed against Bhatt earlier by his former colleague KD Panth with Ghatlodia police when Panth said he had been forced to sign an affidavit to be submitted to the amicus curiae appointed by Supreme Court in the 2002 Godhra riot cases.

Panth, in his complaint, had said that he was taken to the office of Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia and then to the office of an advocate to sign an affidavit.

Shah allegedly is a witness in that case and so he recorded his statement with the police in Panth’s complaint. He was later approached by Solanki to retract his statement.

Solanki hit the headlines when he investigated the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case and found the links between Sohrab and Tulsiram Prajapati.

“My phone was tapped by the state government at that time and it came to know that Solanki had approached me to retract my statement,” Shah said. “Eventually, the government officials lured me into filing a fake complaint against Solanki,” he added. “I filed the complaint against Solanki,” Shah told dna. “I was promised that the government officials would help me with a land deal. But they reneged on their promise. So, I have withdrawn my complaint against Solanki,” he pointed out.

Police inspector AG Gohil confirmed that an affidavit, signed by Shah, had been received.
He, however, refused to divulge other details. Investigating officer of the case and ACP, L division, JC Patel, was not available for comment despite repeated attempts.

Shah said he was consulting lawyers. “I was lured into making the statement against Bhatt and I may soon reveal the truth, too,” he indicated.

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