Sohrabuddin Encounter Case: Courts drops charges against Amit Shah

PTI
MUMBAI, DECEMBER 30

In a major relief to BJP President Amit Shah, a special CBI court today discharged him in the case of Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter killing in 2005.
“I am of the opinion that the inference drawn by CBI is not accepted in totality and he (Shah) cannot be charged as an accused,” Special CBI Judge M B Gosavi said in a brief order pronounced in the court.
Details of the judgement will be available later.The CBI had charged Shah, the then Minister of State for Home in Gujarat, as an accused in the killing of gangster Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Tulsiram Prajapati, who was said to have been an eyewitness to the encounter.
The CBI had cited some telephone calls between Shah and two other accused in its case against Shah.
Sohrabuddin’s brother Rubabuddin Sheikh said he will challenge the order before the High Court.
He felt that CBI, which prosecuted the case, has been “sold out”.

‘CBI’s clean chit to Shah vindicates BJP’s stand’

Hours after a special CBI court on Tuesday gave a clean chit to BJP national president Amit Shah in Sohrabuddin fake encounter case, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the ‘verdict vindicates BJP’s stand’.
Reacting over this Rajnath wrote on Twitter – “The court’s verdict vindicates our stand.”
In another tweet Rajnath added, “Extremely pleased to know that BJP national president Amit Shah has been given a clean chit by the special CBI court.” Meanwhile, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari too expressed his joy over the court’s verdict.
“I am extremely happy that Amit Shah has been acquitted. I always maintained this stand but the court made it clear today,” said Gadkari.
Another BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman said that the attempt to misuse CBI to nail Amit Shah has failed.
On Wednesday, the CBI had submitted its report in connection with the Ishrat Jahan encounter case to a special CBI court.
However, the investigative agency said today that there is no evidence so far against Shah in the case.
Earlier in the day, Shah was discharged in the alleged fake encounter killings of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, his wife Kausar Bi and Tulsiram Prajapati, a witness.
A special CBI court ruled that there was insufficient evidence against Shah in the case dating to 2005 and 2006, pertaining to the incidents which occurred when he was the Gujarat home minister.
Reacting to the development, Rubabuddin Sheikh, brother of deceased Sohrabuddin, said that he would appeal against the order in the Bombay High Court. Meanwhile, the CBI has said it would study the court order before taking further steps in the matter.