Ahmedabad, January 3: The Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) had arrested senior criminal lawyer H N Jhala last November, allegedly, for aiding absconding gangster Sharif Khan. However, more than a month later, the DCB is yet to submit evidence as directed by the POTA court.

Jhala and two of his juniors were arrested in connection with ‘waging war against the State’ case registered in 2003. They were accused of conniving with Sharif Khan by arranging funds for him.

During the arrest, the DCB maintained that it possessed Central Intelligence Bureau’s telephone intercepts of Jhala’s conversation with Sharif Khan, wherein he is allegedly aiding the gangster. The DCB claimed that Jhala had also invested in Green Bungalow — a disputed property in Mirzapur. Then, Jhala transferred proceeds of the sale to Sharif Khan through hawala, the DCB alleged.

During interrogation, Jhala’s junior Mustaq Ali Saiyeed told the DCB that the senior lawyer was also aware of an arms deal involving Sharif Khan.

Later, the POTA court directed the DCB to submit its evidence against Jhala. It directed the officers to submit copies of the intercepts in transcript form and the Government sanction for making the intercepts. It also asked the DCB to substantiate their arrest in relation to a two-year-old POTA case which does not mention the accused either in the FIR or in the chargesheet.

Till date, the copies have not been submitted to the court. Last month, the prosecutor told the court that it was willing to submit the transcripts only in a sealed envelope as investigation was on and the evidence must not be made public at this stage. When contacted, investigating officer of the case, ACP (Crime) Dr Narendra Amin refused to comment on the issue.

However, a senior Home Department official said that though there is ‘solid’ evidence against Jhala, the DCB is helpless as the Central Intelligence Bureau has still not handed over the intercepts and transcripts. ‘‘The reason for delay is known only to the central agency. We hope to get the transcripts before we file the chargesheets,’’ said the official.