Pradeep Kumar Sharma sought a CBI probe into the cases instituted against him and the transfer of trial in respect of them outside the State.
The apex court bench of Justice Aftab Alam and Justice R.M.Lodha issued the notice to Modi and Gujarat government after it was told the five cases were slapped against the petitioner at the instant of the Chief Minister Modi in pursuance of political feud.
The notice was issued after senior counsel Colin Gonsalves appearing for the Pradeep Sharma agreed to withdraw certain allegation of very personal nature.
Pradeep Kumar told the court that the Chief Minister has directed his ire at him because his brother Kuldip Sharma, who happens to be the senior most Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the State, was instrumental as head of the State CID in cracking Sohrabuddin fake encounter case, holding that human trafficking case against Mallika Sarabhai was unfounded, registration of a complaint against one Kamlesh Tripathi in an extortion case and for recommending that complaint leveling serious charges against Amit Shah in Madhavpura fraud case be sent to CBI for investigation. Kamlesh Tripathi is said to be close to Amit Shah.
He said that at the instance of the Chief Minister, the Annual Confidential Reports (ACR) of his IPS brother were downgraded in order to deny him promotion to next higher post. He said that this was done in contravention of the rules and without assigning any reason. These ACRs were set aside by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) by its judgment of April 7, 2011.
Pradeep Sharma alleged that he was being “harassed by the Chief Minister in order to settle personal scores with Kuldip Sharma” and the State machinery was being “abused” by Modi and former minister of State for Home Amit shah.
He said that Modi became inimical to him after the later feared that a video on his personal relations was in his possession. He said that his house was raided by police in search of that video. The petition alleged that he suspected that his mobile phone was being intercepted by the authorities at the instance of the Chief Minister.
The court was told that in one case investigation was over and the charge-sheet has been filed. And in other four cases the investigation is in progress.
The senior counsel Gonsalves also said that he moved the apex court because two very high ‘constitutional functionaries’ are involved against him in Gujarat.