Sohrabuddin Sheikh Encounter Case: Special CBI Court Acquits All 22 Accused Citing Lack of Evidence
Special CBI court in Mumbai dismissed pleas of witness seeking re-examination into the Sohrabuddin encounter case on Friday. The court in its verdict pronounced that prosecution was unable to prove a conspiracy.
Mumbai, December 21: A special CBI court in Mumbai dismissed pleas of witness seeking re-examination into the Sohrabuddin encounter case on Friday. The court also acquitted all 22 accused in the case due to the lack of evidence. The CBI court in its verdict pronounced that prosecution was unable to prove a conspiracy. The court also observed that circumstantial evidence is not substantial in spite of three investigations. While pronouncing the verdict, the court said, "Government machinery and prosecution put in a lot of effort, 210 witnesses were brought but satisfactory evidence didn't come and witnesses turned hostile. No fault of the prosecutor if witnesses don't speak."
Among the prime accused in the case was BJP national president Amit Shah -- who was acquitted in 2014. The opposition criticised the CBI for not appealing against the order. The agency, however, defended its decision, calling it "conscious" and "reasonable". Yesterday, Gujarat cadre IPS officer Rajnish Rai who probed the case was suspended by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Rai is currently serving in the Counter Insurgency and Anti-Terrorism (CIAT) School of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) at Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh.
The IPS officer is a 1992 batch IPS officer of Gujarat cadre. Rai was among the first investigating officers in the case and had arrested three IPS officers including D.G. Vanjara. Rai had applied for Voluntary Retirement Case in August, 2018. But the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) rejected his plea. He then stopped attending the office, saying his duty ended after office hours of 30/11/2018. Sohrabuddin Encounter Case: Bombay HC Rejects Plea Against CBI Relief to Amit Shah.
Sohrabuddin Sheikh, an alleged gangster, and his wife Kauser Bi were killed in an alleged fake encounter in 2005 by the Gujarat Police. Meanwhile, his aide, Prajapati, was killed in another alleged fake encounter in 2006 in a joint operation by the Gujarat and the Rajasthan police. A total of 22 policemen were facing trial in the case. According to reports, Out of the 210 witnesses brought in by the prosecution, 92 have been declared hostile.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 21, 2018 12:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).