Sohrabuddin: HC notice to accused over voice test

Last month, CBI sessions court judge did not permit agency to collect the voice samples

Gujarat High Court on Tuesday issued notices to suspended IPS officer Abhay Chudasama and sub-inspector N V Chauhan while hearing a petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation seeking permission to record their voice samples in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. 

   CBI had filed an application in the high court on February 4 after a special CBI court had denied permission for voice spectograph tests of the accused policemen. CBI lawyer Y N Ravani submitted that the voice sample is required as part of evidence gathering exercise.
   Justice Anant Dave, while hearing the CBI plea, issued notices to the two accused asking them to respond to the CBI plea and file their replies by February 22 when the next hearing is scheduled.

Last month, CBI sessions court judge G K Upadhyay had disallowed CBI to collect voice samples of the duo. The order was passed while hearing appeals by Chudasama and Chauhan against a magisterial court’s order of October last allowing CBI to collect their voice samples.  CBI wanted the voice samples of Chudasama, Chauhan and N K Amin to verify the voices with some audio-video evidence that it had. Amin, who wants to become an approver in the case, had already given voice sample for verification.