Battlelines have been drawn: Vanzara

New Delhi: DG Vanzara put up a bold front on Saturday and claimed that the charges against him were "interpolation and concocted."

The arrested Gujarat IPS officer, who is in the eye of a storm over the alleged fake encounter killings, said the allegations levelled against him in connection with Sheikh's wife Kausar Bi's case were "concocted." The Gujarat government has admitted that Kausar was killed and her body burnt.

"The battle lines have been drawn," Vanzara claimed.

A calm, composed and unruffled Vanzara, arrested in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, smiled at reporters who were at the court to cover the proceedings when he was brought by the CID to seek further remand along with two other accused IPS officers.

Though Vanzara did not clearly spell out against whom the battlelines have been drawn, the indication he gave was that he was not affected by the happenings and that he was ready for a long battle.

Asked whether he still stands by his statement that Sheikh was a terrorist, he replied in the affirmative and said: "I have even stated this in the court of law."

Asked how he was spending his time in the lock-up, he said, "I am spending my time doing yoga. I also listen to and read the preachings of Asaram Bapu as I am his follower. There is no television to watch or newspaper to read."

Looking at the large media contingent he remarked: "I know what you have been writing about me. But I have nothing against you all as I know it is nothing personal."

The other two arrested IPS officers — Rajkumar Pandian and Dineshkumar M N — however, appeared tense and avoided any chat with the media.

(With agency inputs)