Another accused in Masood case remanded to CBI custody

Indore: Ifran, another accused in the RTI activist Shehla Masood murder case, was today produced before the Special CBI court which remanded him to CBI’s custody up to 16 March. Irfan was brought here by the Uttar Pradesh police on a production warrant, and was produced in the court of Special Judicial Magistrate (CBI), Dr Shubra Singh, after he was formally arrested under section 302 (murder) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) in the Masood case, said CBI lawyer Hemant Shukla. [caption id=“attachment_239524” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Screengrab/ibnlive”]  [/caption] The central agency sought his custody for interrogation. The Magistrate, while granting Irfan’s custody, directed CBI not to “torture” the accused, and also directed the latter to cooperate with investigation. The court also directed the CBI to get him medically examined and submit the report. Irfan was arrested by UP police in connection with the Masood murder case, and during the investigation he allegedly revealed that it was the Bhopal-based interior designer Zahida Pervez who had hired him through Saqib Danger for eliminating Shehla. Irfan allegedly told the interrogators that it was Shanu Aulanga who shot Shehla on 16 August, 2011 in Bhopal. Aulanga was later killed at Kanpur in an encounter. The CBI had earlier arrested Pervez, her close associate Saba Faroqui, and Saqib. Another accused, Salim, is still at large. The court has allowed the CBI to subject the three accused to a polygraph test. PTI