View source for Ishrat Jahan encounter killing

{{Short description|Extra-judicial killing by police in Gujarat, India}}
{{For|other people with the name "Ishrat Jahan"|Ishrat Jahan (disambiguation){{!}}Ishrat Jahan}}
{{Update|date=December 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
[[File:Ishrat Jahan encounter, 2004.jpg|thumb|The bodies of the four people killed in the encounter, 15 June 2004|291x291px]]

On 15 June 2004,  officers of the [[Ahmedabad City Police|Ahmedabad Police]] Crime Branch and members of the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB) of [[Ahmedabad]] shot and killed four people. Those killed in the incident were Ishrat Jahan Raza, a 19-year-old woman from [[Mumbra]], [[Maharashtra]], and three men – Javed Ghulam Sheikh (born Pranesh Pillai), Amjad Ali Rana and Zeeshan Johar.<ref name="cbiishrat">{{cite news |last=Desai |first=Darshan |date=9 July 2013 |title=Ishrat killing a fake encounter, says CBI |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/ishrat-killing-a-fake-encounter-says-cbi/article4877402.ece |accessdate=2016-02-13 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> The Indian [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] (CBI) made allegations about the entire operation being an instance of "[[encounter killing]]".<ref>{{cite web|title=Affidavit from home ministry – August 2008|url=https://thewire.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Home-Ministry-Affidavit-August-2009.pdf|website=www.thewire.in|publisher=Government of India|access-date=3 July 2017}}</ref> The state agencies and police claimed that Ishrat Jahan and her associates were [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]] (LeT) operatives involved in a plot to assassinate the [[Chief Minister of Gujarat]], [[Narendra Modi]].

After the incident, an investigation was launched based on allegations that the description of the incident by the police was false and the killings were deliberate and unlawful. The police team involved in the incident had been led by [[Deputy inspector general of police|DIG]] D.G. Vanjara, an officer who spent eight years in jail for his alleged involvement in the extrajudicial killing of another person, [[Death of Sohrabuddin Sheikh|Sohrabuddin Sheikh]].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_ishrat-sit-grills-jail-cop-dg-vanzara-for-four-hours_1563193 | title = Ishrat SIT grills jail cop DG Vanzara for four hours | author = Roxy Gagdekar | publisher = [[DNA (newspaper)|DNA]] | date = 7 July 2011 | accessdate = 2011-11-21 }}</ref> Five years later, in 2009, an Ahmedabad Metropolitan court ruled that the encounter was staged.<ref name="toi-fake">{{Cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Ishrat-Jahan-killed-in-fake-police-encounter-Probe/articleshow/4983183.cms |title=Ishrat Jahan killed in fake police encounter: Probe |website=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=30 June 2013 |archive-date=28 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828051139/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-09-07/ahmedabad/28089878_1_ishrat-jahan-fake-encounter-sheikh-alias-pranesh-pillai |url-status=live }}</ref> The decision was challenged by the [[Government of Gujarat|state government]] and taken to the [[Gujarat High Court]]. After further investigation, in 2011, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) told the High Court that the encounter was not genuine, and the victims were killed prior to the date of the [[staged encounter]].<ref name="IBN_SIT_HC_fake_2011">{{cite news | url = http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ishrat-jahan-encounter-was-fake-sit-to-guj-hc/204421-3.html | title = Ishrat Jahan encounter was fake: SIT tells Gujarat HC | publisher = [[CNN-IBN|IBNLive]] | date = 21 November 2011 | accessdate = 2011-11-21 | archive-date = 23 November 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111123083750/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ishrat-jahan-encounter-was-fake-sit-to-guj-hc/204421-3.html | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name=ht11/> On 3 July 2013, the CBI filed its first chargesheet in an Ahmedabad court saying that the shooting was a staged encounter carried out in cold blood.<ref name="NDTV_CBI_files_chargesheet">{{cite news | url = http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/ishrat-jahan-s-encounter-was-staged-by-police-and-state-intelligence-bureau-says-cbi-387619?pfrom=home-lateststories |title = Ishrat Jahan's encounter was staged by police and state Intelligence Bureau, says CBI | publisher = [[NDTV]] | date = 3 July 2013 | accessdate = 2013-07-03}}</ref>

Although the question of whether the killings were an illegal staged event or not is separate from whether the people who were killed were working for the LeT, the family of Ishrat Jahan and several politicians and activists have maintained that she was innocent, and that question has continued to be disputed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/ishrat-was-an-innocent-girl-who-was-murdered-says-family/20130706.htm |title=Ishrat was an innocent girl who was murdered, says family}}</ref> The CBI declared that the encounter was staged, but did not comment on whether Ishrat Jahan was an LeT associate or not.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-05/india/40391375_1_ishrat-jahan-fake-encounter-anaju-chaudhary |title=CBI to steer clear of Ishrat's terror links |access-date=8 July 2013 |archive-date=29 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029204512/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-05/india/40391375_1_ishrat-jahan-fake-encounter-anaju-chaudhary |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2004, the [[Lahore]]-based publication ''Ghazwa Times'' quoted someone from [[Jamaat-ud-Dawah]], the political arm of the LeT, as saying that Ishrat and her companions were LeT "activists".<ref name="ToI_2004_Lashkar_owns">{{cite web | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lashkar-owns-up-Ishrat/articleshow/778241.cms?intenttarget=no | title = Lashkar owns up Ishrat | work = The Times of India | date = 14 July 2004 | accessdate = 2016-02-13 }}</ref> However, in 2007, Jamaat-ud-Dawa retracted the statement as a "journalistic mistake" and offered an apology to Ishrat's family. No explanation was given as to why the previous statement was retracted after three years.<ref name="ToI_contradictions_2009">{{cite news | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Ishrat-encounter-Centres-affidavit-full-of-contradictions/articleshow/5000899.cms | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110811092357/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-09-12/ahmedabad/28102703_1_ishrat-jahan-shamima-kausar-ishrat-encounter | url-status = live | archive-date = 11 August 2011 | title = Ishrat encounter: Centre's affidavit full of contradictions | work = The Times of India | date = 12 September 2009 | access-date = 2011-11-21 }}</ref> In 2010, some media outlets reported that the convicted terrorist [[David Headley]] had implicated Ishrat in terrorist activities in a statement given to the [[National Investigation Agency (India)|National Investigation Agency]] (NIA).<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com">{{cite web | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ishrat-Jahan-was-an-LeT-fidayeen-Headley/articleshow/6129125.cms | title = Ishrat Jahan was an LeT Fedayeen: Headley | work = The Times of India | date = 5 July 2010 | access-date = 2011-11-21 | archive-date = 11 August 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110811081502/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-07-05/india/28275895_1_ishrat-jahan-javed-sheikh-alias-pranesh-pillai | url-status = live }}</ref> The NIA called these reports "baseless",<ref name="DNA_NIA_rubbishes_2011">{{cite news | url = http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_nia-rubbishes-reports-that-david-headley-spoke-about-ishrat-jahan_1542579 | title = NIA rubbishes reports that David Headley spoke about Ishrat Jahan | publisher = [[DNA (newspaper)|DNA]] | date = 12 May 2011 | accessdate = 2011-11-21 }}</ref> and the [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]] said that this assertion was fabricated by the IPS officer Rajendra Kumar, who is one of the suspects in the case.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-06-12/news/39925724_1_ishrat-jahan-intelligence-bureau-encounter-case | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130615093037/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-06-12/news/39925724_1_ishrat-jahan-intelligence-bureau-encounter-case | url-status = dead | archive-date = 15 June 2013 | title = Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case: IB heartburn over CBI summons | date = 2013-06-12 | newspaper = Economic Times | author = Aman Sharma }}</ref> In June 2013, the [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|Intelligence Bureau]] chief Asif Ibrahim told the [[Prime Minister's Office (India)|Office of the Prime Minister]] and the [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Home Minister of India]] that the Bureau had enough evidence to prove that Ishrat was a part of an LeT module which planned to kill Narendra Modi and the former [[Deputy Prime Minister of India]], [[Lal Krishna Advani]].<ref name="india-today-20130614"/> In February 2016, Headley testified before a Mumbai court, via video from the US, that Ishrat Jahan was a member of Laskhar-e-Taiba.<ref name=ishratheadley>{{cite news|last=Live|first=IBN|title=David Headley names Ishrat Jahan as LeT operative during deposition in court - IBNLive|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/david-headley-names-ishrat-jahan-as-let-operative-during-deposition-in-court-1201792.html|newspaper=IBNLive|date=11 Feb 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=David Headley Says Ishrat Jehan Was A Lashkar Member - NDTV News|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/david-headley-says-ishrat-jehan-was-a-lashkar-member-1276167|newspaper=NDTV|date=11 Feb 2016}}</ref>

== The people killed in the incident ==
;Amjad Ali Rana
Amjad Ali Rana, also known as Amjadali Akbarali Rana, Akbar or Salim, was according to Indian sources from Haveli Deewan (Haveli Diwan) village in the [[Bhalwal Tehsil]] of Pakistan.<ref name="ExpressIndia_2004_07_14"/> However, a later report by the metropolitan magistrate SP Tamang stated Rana's identity card, along with that of suspect Zeeshan, was forged by the police and the two men were Indian citizens.<ref name="Tamang"/> According to the CBI chargesheet,<ref name="Firstpost_Exclusive_The_Full_Text">{{cite news
 |url = http://www.firstpost.com/india/exclusive-the-cbis-ishrat-jahan-chargesheet-969551.html
 |title = Exclusive: The full text of the CBI's Ishrat Jahan chargesheet
 |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->
 |date = 19 July 2013
 |newspaper = [[Firstpost]]
 |access-date = 24 April 2016}}</ref><ref name="Firstpost_Scribd_Link">{{cite web
 |url = https://www.scribd.com/doc/154708474/Ishrat-Jehan-First-CBI-Charge-sheet
 |title = Final Report Form (Under Section 173 Cr.Pc), In The Hon'ble Court of Addl. Chief Judicial Magistrate, CBI Court II, Mirzapur, Ahmedabad
 |date = 3 July 2013
 |author = CBI
 |author-link = Central Bureau of Investigation
 |access-date = 24 April 2016}}</ref> he told the [[Gujarat Police]] that he was planning to commit a terrorist act in Ahmedabad. The CBI also said that he was abducted by the Gujarat Police and IB officials from Gota on the outskirts of Ahmedabad.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Amjad-Ali-had-come-to-Ahmedabad-for-terror-act/2013/07/06/article1669984.ece#.UvPRVIU7D3g | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140303160718/http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Amjad-Ali-had-come-to-Ahmedabad-for-terror-act/2013/07/06/article1669984.ece#.UvPRVIU7D3g | url-status = dead | archive-date = 3 March 2014 | title ='Amjad Ali had come to Ahmedabad for terror act' |date=6 July 2013 |newspaper=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref> He was found dead with an [[AK-56]] rifle near his body, which according to CBI, was planted by the police officials.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Gujarat-crime-branch-had-fired-70-rounds-at-Ishrat-others/articleshow/20915061.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707090542/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-04/india/40370397_1_ishrat-jahan-jg-parmar-amjad-ali-rana |url-status=live |archive-date=7 July 2013 |title=Gujarat crime branch had fired 70 rounds at Ishrat, others |date=4 July 2013 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> Amjad is believed to have met Javed several times in [[Oman]], and also Javed and Ishrat in Ibrahimpur once.<ref name="IndianExpress_now_2011"/>

;Ishrat Jahan Raza
Ishrat Jahan Raza (1985 – 15 June 2004) was a second year Bachelor of Science student at Mumbai's [[Guru Nanak Khalsa College (King's Circle)|Guru Nanak Khalsa College]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/ahmedabad/Ishrat-Jahan-a-terrorist-says-Gujarat-govt/568771/H1-Article1-451592.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130208082541/http://www.hindustantimes.com/ahmedabad/Ishrat-Jahan-a-terrorist-says-Gujarat-govt/568771/H1-Article1-451592.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 February 2013 |title=Ishrat Jahan a terrorist, says Gujarat govt |newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=8 September 2009 |access-date=13 February 2016}}</ref> She was the second of seven siblings. Her lower-middle-class family, hailing from [[Bihar]], lived in the Rashid compound in the Muslim-dominated area of [[Mumbra]], Maharashtra. Ishrat's father, Mohammad Shamim Raza, had been the proprietor of a Mumbai-based construction company called Asian Constructions and her mother Shamima worked for a long time at a medicine packaging company in [[Vashi]]. However, her father died two years before the incident.<ref name="IndianExpress_bright">{{cite web | url = http://www.indianexpress.com/news/a-bright-teen-who-smiled-all-day-mischievous-yet-understanding/878356/0 | title = A bright teen who smiled all day, mischievous yet understanding | author = Ujjwala Nayudu | newspaper=[[The Indian Express]] | date = 21 November 2011 | access-date = 21 November 2011 }}</ref> To cover expenses after her father's death, Ishrat worked as a private tutor for children and did embroidery work to support her family. She also worked for Javed Sheikh ({{ne}} Pranesh Pillai) as a secretary handling his accounts.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.indianexpress.com/news/-Police-exposed--hope-to-get-justice-now-/879320/ | title = Police exposed, hope to get justice now |newspaper = [[The Indian Express]] |date = 23 November 2011 |access-date = 23 February 2013 }}</ref> Javed used to take her out of town at times on work.<ref name="Telegraph_Trailing_2009">{{cite news | url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090909/jsp/frontpage/story_11470250.jsp | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090909225541/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090909/jsp/frontpage/story_11470250.jsp | url-status = dead | archive-date = 9 September 2009 | title = Ishrat's last call to sister: Strange men trailing me | newspaper = The Telegraph | date = 9 September 2009 | access-date = 23 February 2013 }}</ref>

[[David Headley]], who conspired with the Lashkar-e-Taiba in plotting the 2008 Mumbai attacks, later said during FBI interrogation that Ishrat Jahan was a "[[Fidayeen]]" (sacrificial aspirant) working for someone named Muzammil Bhat (or Muzammil Butt).<ref>{{cite web |title=Wanted: Butt, Muzammil |url=http://cbi.nic.in/rnotice/A-4281-6-2012.html |publisher=CBI |access-date=16 February 2016 |archive-date=25 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925034435/http://cbi.nic.in/rnotice/A-4281-6-2012.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=Inconvenient>{{cite news |last=Swami |first=Praveen |url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/ishrat-jahan-the-inconvenient-story-no-one-wants-to-tell-867173.html |title=Ishrat Jahan: The inconvenient story no one wants to tell |date=13 July 2013 |work=[[Firstpost]] |access-date=13 February 2016}} Republished 11 February 2016.</ref> Headley also said during interrogation by the NIA that she had been targeting the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr. Narendra Modi, and was working with [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]] (LeT).<ref name="ndtv_headly"/>

In March 2016, Headley claimed he had told NIA that about Jahan among other things, but could not say why they weren't recorded by the agency. However, he went back on part of his statement that LeT chief [[Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi]] had told him that "Ishrat Jahan module" was a botched operation, adding that he had no personal knowledge about her. He also stated that he learned about her from the media.<ref name=IEtoldNIA>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/2611-case-david-headley-claims-he-told-nia-about-ishrat-jahan/|title=26/11 case: David Headley claims he told NIA about Ishrat Jahan|publisher=Indian Express|date=26 March 2016}}</ref><ref name=knowledge>{{cite web|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/i-have-no-personal-knowledge-about-ishrat-jahan-david-headley/articleshow/51562890.cms|title=I have no personal knowledge about Ishrat Jahan: David Headley|publisher=Economic Times|date=26 March 2016}}</ref>

;Javed Ghulam Sheikh (born Pranesh Pillai)
Pranesh Pillai, later known as Javed Ghulam Sheikh, was the son of Gopinatha Pillai, a native of [[Noornad]] in Kerala.<ref name="Sheikhs_Journey">{{cite news | url = http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/javed-sheikhs-journey-to-death/article33104.ece | title = Javed Sheikh's journey to death | work = [[The Hindu]] | date = 13 October 2009 | access-date = 15 February 2016 }}</ref> He had married in 1994 and had three children.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/others/pranesh-pillai%E2%80%99s-father-says-his-son-got-justice-302 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111122135135/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/others/pranesh-pillai%E2%80%99s-father-says-his-son-got-justice-302 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 22 November 2011 | title = Pranesh Pillai's father says his son got justice | work = [[Deccan Chronicle]] | date = 22 November 2011 | access-date = 22 November 2011 }}</ref> He had migrated to [[Mumbra]] in Mumbai after marrying. Before his death, he had been booked for four assault cases in Mumbai and Pune, and had also been charged with involvement in a [[fake currency]] racket.<ref name="IndianExpress_now_2011">{{cite news | url = http://www.indianexpress.com/news/now-i-can-live-without-stigma/878959/0 | title = Now, I can live without stigma |author1=Chandan Haygunde |author2=Shaju Philip | newspaper= [[The Indian Express]] | date = 22 November 2011 | access-date = 22 November 2011 }}</ref> Pranesh Pillai converted to Islam and changed his name in 1991 to Javed Sheikh to marry a Muslim woman called Sajida. Gujarat Police recovered two passports from Javed: one obtained using his original name Pranesh and a second one in his new name.<ref name="IndianExpress_now_2011"/><ref name="Sheikhs_Journey"/>

Jahan's family first met Javed Sheikh two months before her death.<ref name="IndianExpress_bright"/> He had taken Ishrat to Nasik, Bangalore and Lucknow, where he is believed to have met Amjad.<ref name="IndianExpress_now_2011"/> Javed Sheikh travelled to Dubai in 2003 and to Oman in 2004. His wife Sajida said he came back indoctrinated from 2003 Dubai visit.<ref name=Inconvenient/>

;Zeeshan Johar
Zeeshan Johar (variously spelt Jisan Johar, Jishan Johar), also known as Abdul Ghani or Janbaaz, belonged to Gujranwala in Pakistan.<ref name="ExpressIndia_2004_07_14">{{cite news |date=14 July 2004 |title=Ishrat was working for us: Lashkar |url=http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=33794 |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204230937/http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=33794 |archive-date=4 February 2019 |access-date=3 April 2016 |newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref> Johar had reportedly been arrested in a trespassing case in [[Srinagar]] in 2003, along with Amjad.<ref name="IndianExpress_now_2011"/> No one claimed the bodies of Amjad and Zeeshan after their death.<ref name="IndianExpress_now_2011"/> An identity card with a Pakistan address was reportedly recovered from Zeeshan Johar's body. However, a later report by the metropolitan magistrate SP Tamang stated that identity cards were forged by the police and the two men were Indian citizens.<ref name="Tamang">{{cite news | url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-09-09/ahmedabad/28068081_1_crime-branch-identity-magistrate | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711030732/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-09-09/ahmedabad/28068081_1_crime-branch-identity-magistrate | url-status=dead | archive-date=11 July 2012 |title=True identity of Johar, Rana still unknown |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=9 September 2009 |access-date=22 November 2011}}</ref>

== The accused officers ==
Police officers accused in the case included Deputy Commissioner of Police Dhananjay G. Vanzara and Assistant Commissioner of the Police Crime Branch Girish Laxman Singhal.<ref name=SinghalTapes/> SIB officers accused in the case include Special Director Rajinder Kumar, Assistant Director M. K. Sinha, Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajeev Wankhede, and officer T. Mittal.<ref name=cbiishrat/>

== The encounter ==
In February 2004, J&K Police had shot dead Ehsan Illahi, an LeT terrorist. The [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|IB]]-led operation that followed, gathered intelligence about Javed Sheikh's plans and lured him to Ahmedabad where Gujarat Police awaited the arrival of his car.<ref name="Sheikhs_Journey"/><ref name="infiltrated">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2004/06/26/stories/2004062605410100.htm|work=[[The Hindu]]|title=Front Page : Gujarat Lashkar conspiracy was infiltrated by Intelligence mole|date=2004-06-26|access-date=31 March 2016}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Jahan had left her house on 11 June 2004, four days before she was killed. According to her brother, their mother Shameema did not like her going out of town with Javed. Therefore, she did not inform her mother when she left for [[Nashik]].<ref name="Telegraph_Trailing_2009"/> Jahan made a phone call to her mother on 11 June and spoke with her. According to her mother, she had called from a public phone booth outside a Nashik bus stop, and told her that "Uncle Javed Sheikh hasn't come yet." Jahan's mother said that a few minutes later, Jahan made a second call and said in a terrified voice that Javed had come but with some "strange men", and then hung abruptly.<ref name="IndianExpress_bright"/>

On 15 June 2004, the Gujarat police stated that Ishrat, along with three other people, had been gunned down near [[Ahmedabad]] by a police team belonging to the Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) of the [[Ahmedabad City Police]].<ref name="voa"/><ref name="thehindu"/> The four were allegedly killed after the police chased their blue [[Tata Indica]] car. It is not clear how the four wound up in Gujarat from Maharashtra.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[Tehelka]] |url=http://tehelka.com/the-death-of-a-family/ |title=The Death Of A Family |author=Rana Ayyub |author-link=Rana Ayyub |issue=38 |volume=6 |date=26 September 2009 |access-date=23 February 2013 |archive-date=13 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513164739/http://tehelka.com/the-death-of-a-family/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The police claimed that all four were connected with the Pakistan-based terror group LeT and were in Gujarat to assassinate [[Narendra Modi]], in order to avenge the [[2002 Gujarat violence|communal riots of 2002]] in which more than 1000 people were killed.<ref name="thehindu"/> The police team was led by then Deputy Commissioner of Police [[D. G. Vanzara|Dhananjay G. Vanzara]], who was later jailed for involvement in the [[Sohrabuddin Sheikh]] encounter killing.<ref name="hindustantimes_staged_2009">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/homepage/ahmedabad/Ishrat-Jahan-s-killing-staged-Judicial-probe-report/451517/H1-Article1-451368.aspx|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090911075238/http://www.hindustantimes.com/homepage/ahmedabad/Ishrat-Jahan-s-killing-staged-Judicial-probe-report/451517/H1-Article1-451368.aspx|url-status=dead|title=Ishrat Jahan's killing staged: Judicial probe report|archivedate=11 September 2009}}</ref><ref name="deccanherald">{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/23879/ishrat-jahan-encounter-fakejudicial-probe.html|title=Ishrat Jahan encounter is fake, judicial probe|work=Deccan Herald|date=7 September 2009 |access-date=31 March 2016}}</ref>

== Allegations ==
On 15 July 2004, news outlets such as ''[[The Indian Express]]'',<ref name="ExpressIndia_2004_07_14"/> ''[[The Times of India]]'',<ref name="ToI_2004_Lashkar_owns"/> [[Rediff.com]],<ref name="Rediff_2004_LeT_mouthpiece">{{cite web
 |title=LeT mouthpiece says Ishrat a member
 |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/jul/14ishrat.htm
 |date=15 July 2004
 |access-date=3 April 2016
 |publisher=Rediff India
}}</ref> and ''[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]''<ref name="Outlook_2004_LeT_describes">{{cite news
 |title=LeT describes Ishrat as outfit's woman activist
 |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/let-describes-ishrat-as-outfits-woman-activist/235198
 |date=15 July 2004
 |access-date=3 April 2016
 |newspaper=Outlook India
}}</ref> carried news reports that "the Lahore-based Ghazwa Times, mouthpiece of the [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]]" had acknowledged Ishrat Jahan as a [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]] operative.  According to these news reports, the Ghazwa Times had published an article on the "Jamat-ul-Dawa" [sic] website stating that "the veil of Ishrat Jahan, a woman activist of LeT, was removed by Indian police and her body was kept with other mujahideens (terrorists) on the ground", and that "Ishrat was with her husband, sitting on the front seat of the car".{{unreliable source?|reason=(WP:QS) The archived content of the Jamaat-ud-Dawah website does not match these reports.|date=April 2016}} In June 2007, the ''[[Business Standard]]'' reported that the "global terror group Lashkar-e-Taiyba" had apologised<ref name="jud-apology">{{citation
 |title        = An apology to Ishrat Jahan's family
 |url          = http://www.jamatdawah.org/news_detail.php?news_id=342
 |author       = Abdullah Muntazir
 |author-link       = Abdullah Muntazir
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20081222044620/http://www.jamatdawah.org/news_detail.php?news_id=342
 |archive-date = 22 December 2008
 |date         = 2007-05-02
 |url-status     = dead
 |df           = dmy-all}}</ref> to Indian Muslims on 2 May 2007 on the [[Jamaat-ud-Dawah]]'s website "for causing them problems due to an inadvertent mistake", with the article implying that mistake in question was the claim that "Ishrat Jehan Reza had been a Lashkar operative".<ref name="BusinessStandard_2007_An_intriguing">{{cite news
 |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/an-intriguing-apology-from-let-107060801011_1.html
 |title=An intriguing apology from LeT
 |author=Aasha Khosa
 |date=8 June 2007
 |access-date=3 April 2016
 |newspaper=Business Standard
}}</ref>{{unreliable source?|certain=y|reason=(WP:QS)|date=January 2026}}

The media reports were subsequently used by the [[Government of India]] in its 2009 affidavit as evidence of Ishrat Jahan's links with the [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]].<ref name="TheWire_2016_The_Second_Killing">{{cite web |title=The Second Killing of Ishrat Jahan |url=http://thewire.in/2016/03/02/the-second-killing-of-ishrat-jahan-23407/ |date=2 March 2016 |access-date=3 April 2016 |publisher=The Wire |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331141605/http://thewire.in/2016/03/02/the-second-killing-of-ishrat-jahan-23407/ |archive-date=31 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Gujarat Govt to Challenge Ishrat Jahan Report |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/gujarat-govt-to-challenge-ishrat-jahan-report/665764 |date=8 September 2009 |newspaper=Outlook |access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref>

Between July 2004<ref name="jud-web-1"/> and August 2004,<ref name="jud-web-2"/> the website of the [[Jamaat-ud-Dawah]] carried a notice disclaiming knowledge of "the young girl Ishrat Jahan Araa" (sic), claiming that the Indian media had fabricated news about Ishrat Jahan's links to the [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]].<ref name="jud-web-1">{{citation |url=http://www.jamatuddawa.org/ |title=Ishrat Jahan's link with Lashkar-e-Taiba not established through Jama'at-ud-Da'awa's website | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040728170745/http://www.jamatuddawa.org/ |archive-date=2004-07-28 |date=2004-07-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="jud-web-2">{{citation |url=http://www.jamatuddawa.org/ |title=Ishrat Jahan's link with Lashkar-e-Taiba not established through Jama'at-ud-Da'awa's website | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040824034236/http://jamatuddawa.org/ |archive-date=2004-08-24 |date=2004-08-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 2 May 2007, [[Abdullah Muntazir]], spokesperson of the [[Jamaat-ud-Dawah]] Pakistan, apologised to Ishrat Jahan's family and to all Indian Muslims for the journalistic mistake by his staff of quoting Indian news sites without proper attribution, which had enabled Indian media to claim that Ishrat Jahan had been a Lashkar-e-Taiba operative. He claimed the [[Jamaat-ud-Dawah]] had "published a vehement denial",<ref name="jud-web-1"/> but that the "damage had already been done".<ref name="jud-apology"/>

A probe into the encounter was ordered after Ishrat Jahan's family insisted she was innocent. The Mumbai police said she had no criminal background and their investigation did not find anything that could implicate her.<ref name="voa">{{Cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-09-08-voa15.cfm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090911195219/http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-09-08-voa15.cfm|url-status=dead|title=VOA News|archivedate=11 September 2009}}</ref> A number of politicians and the [[Maharashtra]] State Minorities Commission demanded an inquiry.<ref name="hindustantimes_staged_2009"/> Ishrat Jahan's funeral procession was attended by over 10,000 people in Mumbra and the [[Samajwadi Party]] state president [[Abu Azmi]] said that he would demand a CBI probe into the killings.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www1.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-746863,prtpage-1.cms |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104004153/http://www1.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-746863,prtpage-1.cms |title=Thousands turn out to bid Ishrat farewell |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=20 June 2004 |archive-date=4 January 2013}}</ref>

The Gujarat government had faced strong criticism by human rights groups for anti-Muslim human rights violations following the [[2002 Gujarat violence|communal riots of 2002]].<ref name="voa"/> During this period, there had been several police encounter deaths in Gujarat, three attributed to attempts to kill Narendra Modi in retaliation for the alleged involvement of the state machinery in the riots. Some {{Who|date=May 2019}}human rights activists have alleged that many of these alleged encounters actually happen in police custody.<ref>Leena Misra. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110811030114/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-10-22/ahmedabad/27300829_1_encounter-crime-branch-police-action There's a hollow ring to encounter stories in Gujarat]</ref> They claimed that there is a pattern that many of these encounters followed: they always took place in the wee hours of the morning in a deserted area, with no witnesses; a vigorous exchange of fire resulted in the deaths of all the terrorists, while the police received no injuries; and the diary of the accused was often recovered, and contained incriminating evidence.<ref name="pucl">PUCL. [https://web.archive.org/web/20040907142019/http://www.pucl.org/Topics/Religion-communalism/2004/ahmedabad-encounter.htm A report of the all India fact finding team on the 'encounter' of four alleged terrorists by Gujarat police on 15 June 2004 at Ahmedabad]. July 2004.</ref>

According to [[People's Union for Civil Liberties]], the Gujarat police did not follow normal procedures in their investigations. No FIR was lodged with the local area police station where the encounter occurred, no charge sheet, no inquest report, and no witness statement. No bullet marks or damage was observed on the road or surrounding area.<ref name="pucl"/>

=== Tamang report ===
The report by the Metropolitan Magistrate S. P. Tamang submitted in the metropolitan court Ahmedabad on 7 September 2009 said the four persons were killed in police custody.<ref name="voa"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theindiapost.com/2009/09/08/ishrat-jahan-encounter-is-fake-says-judicial-probe/|title=Ishrat Jahan encounter is fake, says judicial probe|date=8 September 2009 |access-date=31 March 2016}}</ref> It implicated a number of top police officials for the deaths, which were allegedly staged in order to win promotions and rewards.<ref name="voa"/>

The Ahmedabad Metropolitan court ruled that the killing of Ishrat Jehan was a fake encounter,<ref name="toi-fake"/> and Ishrat's family stated that she was not connected with LeT at all. A petition led the high court to constitute a police team, headed by Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Pramod Kumar to look into the incident.<ref name="expressbuzz">{{cite web|url=http://newindianexpress.com/nation/article149788.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131121110829/http://newindianexpress.com/nation/article149788.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 November 2013|title=Gujarat maintains Ishrat Jahan a terrorist|work=The New Indian Express|access-date=31 March 2016}}</ref>

In the 243-page report, Tamang named the "encounter specialist" of the Gujarat police, the then head of the DCB, D.G. Vanzara, among others, as the accused in the "cold-blooded murder" of Ishrat Jahan and three others.<ref name="thehindu">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/08/stories/2009090856670100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909094519/http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/08/stories/2009090856670100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 September 2009|work=[[The Hindu]]|title=Ishrat Jahan killing also a fake encounter: probe report|date=2009-09-08|access-date=31 March 2016}}</ref><ref name="deccanherald"/>

Claiming that the police officers were motivated by their personal interests in getting promotions and appreciation from the Chief Minister, Tamang included a list of top police officers, whom he held responsible. It includes Vanzara and his then deputy Narendra K. Amin, both of whom were already arrested in the Sohrabuddin encounter killing case. The list also included K.R. Kaushik, who was then the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner, [[P. P. Pandey|P.P. Pandey]],  who was then the chief of the Crime Branch, and another alleged encounter specialist Tarun Barot.<ref name="thehindu"/>

The Gujarat High Court stayed the Tamang report on 9 September 2009 but gave liberty to Ishrat Jahan's mother to produce the report before the three-member committee constituted by the High Court to investigate the encounter. Justice Kalpesh Javheri said the observations made in the report were beyond the jurisdiction of the judicial magistrate.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Gujarat-HC-stays-Tamang-report-on-Ishrat-encounter/articleshow/4991592.cms |title=Gujarat HC stays Tamang report on Ishrat encounter |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=9 September 2009 |access-date=2016-03-30}}</ref> The Division Bench directed the Registrar-General of the High Court to institute a departmental inquiry into the conduct of Mr. Tamang in holding a parallel inquiry into the encounter, when the High Court was already seized of the matter, and submitting the report without its permission.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/gujarat-high-court-stays-tamang-report/article17750.ece |title=Gujarat High Court stays Tamang report |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=2009-09-10 |access-date=2016-03-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timesnow.tv/HC-stays-Tamang-report/articleshow/4326945.cms |title=Gujarat HC stays Tamang report on Ishrat encounter |website=Timesnow.Tv |access-date=2016-03-30 |archive-date=14 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414005439/http://www.timesnow.tv/HC-stays-Tamang-report/articleshow/4326945.cms |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Further investigation ==

The Gujarat State Government challenged the report of the metropolitan magistrate, saying that the policemen accused of faking the encounter were not given an opportunity to present their side of the arguments. Gujarat government's petition in the High Court against the Tamang report said it should be scrapped as it was "illegal and doubtful".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tamang-report-illegal-says-gujarat/article180176.ece |title=Tamang report illegal, says Gujarat - NATIONAL |work=The Hindu |date=2009-09-10 |access-date=2016-03-30}}</ref>

In July 2010, some media outlets reported that the LeT terrorist [[David Headley]] involved in the [[2008 Mumbai attacks|26/11 Mumbai terror attacks]] had named Ishrat as a member of LeT.<ref name="ndtv_headly">[http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/ishrat-jahan-was-an-let-suicide-bomber-headley-to-nia-35665 Ishrat Jahan was an LeT suicide bomber: Headley to NIA] NDTV – 5 July 2010</ref> However, in a letter to the Gujarat High Court, the NIA clarified that these media reports were false and David Headly did not speak about Ishrat Jahan.<ref name="DNA_NIA_rubbishes_2011"/> IB has alleged that the original NIA report did have excerpts detailing Headley's account about Ishrat's links with LeT: these two paragraphs were later deleted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/ishrat-jahan-encounter-unanswered-questions-388963|title=Ishrat Jahan encounter: Unanswered questions|author=Sreenivasan Jain (with inputs Niha Masih, Rohit Bhan, Rashmi Rajput, Imtiaz Jaleel)|date=7 July 2013|work=NDTV.com|access-date=31 March 2016}}</ref>

The Gujarat High Court in August 2010 held that the motive described by magistrate SP Tamang in his inquiry report on the Ishrat Jahan encounter case cannot be accepted and also raised doubts on the magistrate's conclusion about the time of death of the four.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/HC-picks-holes-in-Tamang-report/articleshow/6301785.cms |title=HC picks holes in Tamang report - Times of India |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=2010-08-12 |access-date=2016-03-30}}</ref>

A Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by Karnail Singh, was set up to probe the case further. The SIT sent four teams to Srinagar, Delhi, Lucknow and Nashik to probe Ishrat's alleged terrorist links.<ref>Ujjwala Nayudu, [https://archive.today/20130123024932/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/ishrat-19-cops-under-sit-scanner-to-be-quizzed/734544/ Ishrat: 19 cops under SIT scanner, to be quizzed]. ''[[The Indian Express]]'', 7 January 2011.</ref> The team's [[forensics|forensic]] and [[ballistics|ballistic]] experts, reconstructed the events of the encounter.<ref>Ujjwala Nayudu, [http://www.indianexpress.com/news/ishrat-experts-from-delhi-to-reconstruct-encounter/761745/0 Ishrat: Experts from Delhi to reconstruct encounter]. ''[[The Indian Express]]'', 13 March 2011.</ref> Karnail Singh appointed a team headed by Professor [[Tirath Das Dogra|T D Dogra]] and Dr. Rajinder Singh, Director CFSL Delhi to help reconstruction of scene of occurrence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://post.jagran.com/board-of-experts-misinterpreted-parameters-in-ishrat-case-sit-1324300205|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029194046/http://post.jagran.com/board-of-experts-misinterpreted-parameters-in-ishrat-case-sit-1324300205|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 October 2013|title=Board of experts misinterpreted parameters in Ishrat case: SIT|date=19 December 2011<!-- , 06:43 PM-->|publisher=Jagron post|access-date=1 March 2013}}</ref>

On 21 November 2011, the SIT told the Gujarat High Court that the Ishrat Jahan encounter was not genuine. After the SIT filed its report, the High Court ordered that a complaint under Indian Penal Code Section 302 (murder) has to be filed against those involved in the fake encounter, in which over 20 policemen, including senior IPS officers, were involved.<ref name="IBN_SIT_HC_fake_2011"/><ref name=ht11>{{cite news |title=Gujarat cops killed Ishrat Jahan in cold blood: SIT |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/TopStories/Gujarat-cops-killed-Ishrat-Jahan-in-cold-blood-SIT/Article1-772053.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111122100221/http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/TopStories/Gujarat-cops-killed-Ishrat-Jahan-in-cold-blood-SIT/Article1-772053.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 November 2011 |newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=21 November 2011 }}</ref>

The CBI began investigations in the case with the help of Gujarat IPS officer Satish Verma. The CBI in their investigations had for the first time tightened its noose against a top cop in any encounter case, PP Pandey. PP Pandey had plotted Ishrat's encounter with the Central IB official Rajendra Kumar.<ref>{{cite news|title=  Ujjwala Nayudu, Top cop Pandry, now on the run, plotted Ishrat Jahan encounter with IB man|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/top-cop-pandey-now-on-run-plotted-ishrat-encounter-with-ib-man/1111703/0|publisher=Indian Express|date=5 May 2013|access-date=5 May 2013 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

== Arrests ==

After somewhat more than a year,<ref>{{cite web  |title=Why is the Congress playing Safe on fake Encounters?  |url=http://www.tehelka.com/story_main54.asp?filename=Ne101112WHY.asp  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106045153/http://www.tehelka.com/story_main54.asp?filename=Ne101112WHY.asp  |url-status=dead  |archive-date=6 November 2012  |date=10 November 2012  |publisher=Tehelka Magazine, Vol 9, Issue 45  }}</ref> on 21 February 2013 CBI arrested Gujarat [[Indian Police Service|IPS]] officer G. L. Singhal who was then Assistant Commissioner of the Police Crime Branch at the time of the incident, in connection with the alleged fake encounter. The CBI in its FIR alleged that Singhal, now Superintendent of Police at State Crime Records Bureau played an active role in the encounter which was later found to be fake by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Gujarat High Court.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ishrat Jahan fake encounter: CBI arrests Gujarat police officer |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-21/india/37220960_1_fake-encounter-ishrat-jahan-gujarat-high-court |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224082151/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-21/india/37220960_1_fake-encounter-ishrat-jahan-gujarat-high-court |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 February 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=23 February 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=CBI arrests first IPS officer in Ishrat fake encounter|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Ahmedabad/Ishrat-Jahan-fake-encounter-CBI-arrests-first-IPS-officer/Article1-1014952.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130222032829/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Ahmedabad/Ishrat-Jahan-fake-encounter-CBI-arrests-first-IPS-officer/Article1-1014952.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 February 2013 |newspaper= [[Hindustan Times]] |date=21 February 2013 |access-date=22 February 2013}}</ref> Besides Singhal, CBI had previously arrested senior police officers, Tarun Barot, J. G. Parmar, N. K. Amin, Bharat Patel and Anaju Chaudhary. After the mandatory 90 days for the CBI to file its chargesheet in the case (which it failed to do), all the accused were released on bail, except Amin.<ref>{{cite news |title=IPS officer gets bail in encounter case|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/334983/ishrat-case-bail-ips-officer.html |newspaper=Deccan Herald |date=27 May 2013 |access-date=6 June 2013}}</ref> A CBI court, issued an arrest warrant for another accused Additional DGP (Crime) P. P. Pandey, who is absconding, though he has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court to get the FIR cancelled.<ref name=dnajune4/>

On 4 June, suspended IPS officer D. G. Vanzara was arrested by the CBI, from Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad, after he was transferred a day ago from a Mumbai Jail since 2007, where he was lodged as he is an accused in Sohrabuddin Shaikh encounter killing case of 2005 as well as Tulsi Prajapati encounter killing case. CBI alleged that he led the team of Detection of Crime Branch (DCB), Ahmedabad, on whose tip off the Ahmedabad Police went ahead with the encounter, and wanted to interrogate him further.<ref name=dnajune4>{{cite news |title=Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case: IPS officer DG Vanzara arrested by CBI from jail |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/1843846/report-ishrat-jahan-fake-encounter-case-ips-officer-dg-vanzara-arrested-by-cbi-from-jail |newspaper= DNA India|date=4 June 2013 |access-date=6 June 2013}}</ref> The following day, an Ahmedabad court remanded Vanzara to CBI custody till 10 June.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ishrat Jahan fake encounter: IPS officer DG Vanzara remanded in CBI custody|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/1844299/report-ishrat-jahan-fake-encounter-ips-officer-dg-vanzara-remanded-in-cbi-custody |newspaper=DNA India |date= 5 June 2013 |access-date=6 June 2013}}</ref>

The CBI expressed the desire to arrest Rajendra Kumar but Intelligence Bureau chief Asif Ibrahim opposed it on many occasions, drawing the ire of CBI.<ref>{{cite news |title=IB chief does what the Congress didn't want, counters CBI on Ishrat case |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/asif-ibrahim-ib-chief-political-move-haunt-congress-ishrat-jahan-encounter-166682-2013-06-13|newspaper=India Today |date=14 June 2013|access-date=16 June 2013}}</ref>

The CBI was able to arrest Rajendra Kumar in 2016 but he was granted bail by the court.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-07-04 |title=CBI arrests Kejriwal's principal secretary |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/Kejriwals-Principal-Secretary-Rajendra-Kumar-arrested/article60529255.ece |access-date=2025-11-26 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-12-15 |title=No stranger to controversy: Rajender Kumar, the 'target' of CBI raid |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/no-stranger-to-controversy-rajender-kumar-the-target-of-cbi-raid/story-EzSQeAXWFu4JsozluUFD8K.html |access-date=2025-11-26 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>

== 2013 developments ==
In June 2013, ''[[India Today]]'' reported that Asif Ibrahim, the chief of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), had told the Prime Minister's Office and the Home Minister that the IB had "enough evidence" to prove that Ishrat Jahan belonged to an LeT module which planned to kill Narendra Modi and Lal Krishna Advani. ''India Today'' reported Ibrahim as telling the Government that David Coleman Headley had revealed this in his interrogation by the FBI.<ref name="india-today-20130614">{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/asif-ibrahim-ib-chief-political-move-haunt-congress-ishrat-jahan-encounter-166682-2013-06-13|title=IB chief does what the Congress didn't want, counters CBI on Ishrat case|last=Mahurkar|first=Uday|work=India Today|date=14 June 2013|access-date=3 July 2013}}</ref>

The [[United States Federal Bureau of Investigation]] had told the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs about Headley's claims on a "female suicide bomber named Ishrat Jahaan".<ref name=Inconvenient/> In a note on 13 October 2010, the NIA had said that Headley had told them Ishrat Jehan had been part of a "botched" operation run by the terrorist group.<ref name=Firstpost-PraveenSwami-LeakedNIA>{{cite news |last=Swami |first=Praveen |title=Leaked NIA document indicates cover up in Ishrat Jahan case |url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/leaked-nia-document-indicates-cover-up-in-ishrat-jahan-case-958401.html |access-date=16 July 2013 |newspaper=First Post |date=16 July 2013}}</ref>

=== Headlines Today report ===
On 13 June 2013, ''[[Headlines Today]]'', an English news channel and subsidiary of [[India Today]] group, revealed that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader [[L.K. Advani]] were among the leaders who were on the hit-list of the alleged terrorists killed in an encounter with Gujarat Police in Ahmedabad on 15 June 2004. It also claimed that Ishrat Jahan was among the terrorists assigned to execute the plot. It released unsubstantiated audio tapes of the conversation of allegedly a LET commander and Javed Sheikh, a man killed in the encounter. The news channel also produced the letter of IB chief to CBI director, in which he said that David Headley also revealed that Ishrat Jahan was an LeT operative. However, Headley's confession to the FBI had already been dismissed as hearsay by the NIA<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/1542579/report-nia-rubbishes-reports-that-david-headley-spoke-about-ishrat-jahan |title=NIA rubbishes reports that David Headley spoke about Ishrat Jahan &#124; Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis |publisher=Dnaindia.com |date=12 May 2011 |access-date=18 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Lashkar-e-Taiba plot to kill Narendra Modi unveiled-Headlines Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/narendra-modi-lk-advani-lashkar-e-taiba-ishrat-jahan-fake-encounter-case-420221-2013-06-13 |date=13 June 2013 |access-date=14 June 2013}}</ref>

On 14 June, the leaked tapes were produced as evidence before the Gujarat High Court by the counsel for the Gujarat Government, Tushar Mehta. However, the bench refused to consider them as evidence, asking Mehta to take them to CBI for investigation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://zeenews.india.com/news/gujarat/ishrat-jahan-case-hc-raps-gujarat-govt-says-nobody-has-licence-to-kill_855000.html|title=Ishrat Jahan case: HC raps Gujarat govt, says nobody has licence to kill|date=14 June 2013|website=Zee News}}</ref>

A group of social activists alleged that the IB was selectively leaking tapes to the media in order to scuttle the CBI probe just 24 hours ahead of the scheduled hearing of the case in the Gujarat High Court. They also criticized the media for airing the telephone calls without any forensic tests or voice tests.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/activists-say-ib-trying-to-scuttle-cbi-probe-in-ishrat-case/article4815350.ece|title=Activists say IB trying to scuttle CBI probe in Ishrat case|newspaper=The Hindu |date=14 June 2013|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>

=== ''Tehelka'' report ===

In June 2013, ''[[Tehelka]]'' magazine published an exposé<ref>{{cite news|title=[Exposé] Ishrat Jahan encounter: CBI probe nails IB officer's role-Tehelka.com|url=http://tehelka.com/amit-shah-rajendra-kumar-ordered-ishrat-jahan-encounter/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130916102517/http://www.tehelka.com/amit-shah-rajendra-kumar-ordered-ishrat-jahan-encounter/|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 September 2013|access-date=22 June 2013}}</ref> that revealed that the CBI had in its possession an audio recording of a conversation between Gujarat's former Minister of State [[Praful Khoda Patel]], senior IAS officer [[G. C. Murmu]], and other top officials in a meeting called to chalk out a plan to safeguard the interests of the officers whose names could crop up in the investigation. The conversation was secretly recorded by a meeting attendee, Girish Laxman Singhal, one of the two accused police officers who had been arrested by the CBI in the case.<ref name=SinghalTapes>{{cite news |title=File Charge Sheet In Ishrat Jahan Case By July 4: Court To CBI |url=http://www.tehelka.com/file-charge-sheet-in-ishrat-jahan-case-by-july-4-court-to-cbi/ |access-date=4 July 2013 |archive-date=29 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029060310/http://www.tehelka.com/file-charge-sheet-in-ishrat-jahan-case-by-july-4-court-to-cbi/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Resignation of Vanzara ===
On 1 September 2013, Senior Gujarat Police Officer D G Vanzara said he had resigned from IPS and blamed a lack of interest shown by the state government in rescuing him and other police officers jailed in police encounter cases. He sent his resignation from Sabarmati Jail, but his resignation was refused. He retired in 2014 while still in jail and was released on bail in 2015 after nearly eight months of imprisonment.<ref>{{cite web |first=Rohit |last=Bhan |url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/controversial-police-officer-dg-vanzara-gets-bail-but-cant-enter-gujarat-737208|title=Former Police Officer DG Vanzara Gets Bail in Ishrat Jahan Case, But Can't Enter Gujarat |date=5 February 2015 |website=[[NDTV]]}}</ref>

== 2014 developments ==

=== 2014 CBI report ===
In May 2014, CBI filed a report before a special court in [[Ahmedabad]] that it did not have prosecutable evidence against former Gujarat Minister [[Amit Shah]].<ref>{{cite web |title=CBI gives Clean Chit to Amit Shah in 2004 Ishrat Jahan Encounter Case |url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/05/cbi-gives-clean-chit-to-amit-shah-in-2004-ishrat-jahan-encounter-case/ |publisher=news.biharprabha.com |access-date=7 May 2014}}</ref>

== 2016 developments ==
Allegations against an unnamed congress politician by one of the accused officers.
In February 2016, one of the officers accused in the case, former [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|Intelligence Bureau]] Special Director Rajinder Kumar, said he was pressured and offered "allurements" to implicate the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the case in an attempt to defame Modi. He said there was a conspiracy against Modi led by a senior [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] leader from Gujarat.<ref>{{cite news |title=Congress leader from Gujarat conspired to implicate Narendra Modi in Ishrat Jahan case: Ex-IB officer |url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/congress-leader-from-gujarat-conspired-to-implicate-narendra-modi-in-ishrat-jahan-case-ex-ib-officer_1855320.html |date=13 February 2016 |access-date=13 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Was given 'allurements' to falsely implicate Modi, says IB director Rajendra Kumar on Ishrat case |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-was-given-allurements-to-falsely-implicate-modi-says-ib-director-rajendra-kumar-on-ishrat-case-2177330 |agency=[[Asian News International|ANI]] |date=13 February 2016 |access-date=13 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abplive.in/india-news/a-congress-leader-from-gujarat-knew-about-ishrat-jahans-reality-former-ib-chief-rajendra-kumar-289933|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160214084600/http://www.abplive.in/india-news/a-congress-leader-from-gujarat-knew-about-ishrat-jahans-reality-former-ib-chief-rajendra-kumar-289933|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 February 2016|title=A Congress leader from Gujarat knew about Ishrat Jahan's reality: Former IB chief Rajendra Kumar|website=Abplive.in|access-date=2016-04-01}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Death of Sohrabuddin Sheikh]]
* [[Encounter killings by police]]

== External links ==
* [http://www.hindustantimes.com/static/ishratjahan/ A to Z of Isarat jahan case]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{coord missing|Gujarat}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jahan, Ishrat Shamin Raza}}
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths in police custody in India]]
[[Category:People shot dead by law enforcement officers in India]]
[[Category:2000s in Ahmedabad]]
[[Category:2004 in India]]
[[Category:Human rights abuses in India]]
[[Category:June 2004 in India]]
[[Category:Extrajudicial killings in India]]