CBI Inspector Santosh Kumar has moved an application in the court of Additional Sessions Judge S K Gautam seeking “protection” against threats received from Sub-Inspector Vinay Tyagi of the Special Cell. Kumar has claimed in his application that Tyagi, who was the first investigating officer in the case, had threatened him with “dire consequences for exposing some officers in the case of framing two persons as members of Kashmir-based militant outfit Al Badr”.

Kumar claims Tyagi issued the threats while they were coming out of courtroom after a hearing on December 15. He has also alleged that Tyagi was trying to tamper with evidence in the case.

“It is prayed that the court ensures safety and security of the applicant by giving proper directions,” Kumar’s application reads.

Kumar refused to comment on the issue when contacted by Newsline.

But sources in the Special Cell rubbished the CBI inspector’s allegations. “Who has the power to threaten the CBI? Even if the application is true, why did the CBI inspector wait for so many days?” a Special Cell officer said on conditions of anonymity. “He could have complained to the court on the next date of hearing.”

The officer also denied the Cell had tampered with records or evidence in the case. “The trial has been going on for two years now and everything is on record,” the officer said. “The CBI has filed a closure report alleging frame-up by the Special Cell; there is no possibility of erasing records from the report.”

The CBI has accused Tyagi and fellow Special Cell officers Ravinder Tyagi and Subash Vats of framing Irshad Ali and Moarif Qamar, former Intelligence Bureau informers, as members of Al Badr in 2006. Acting on the directions of the Delhi High Court, the investigating agency, during the course of investigations, had also questioned the three Cell officers.