Final arguments in Sohrabuddin fake encounter case to start next week

A special CBI court in Mumbai will start hearing final arguments in the Sohrabuddin Shaikh and Tulsiram Prajapati alleged fake encounter cases from December 3.

Special CBI judge SJ Sharma wrapped up recording of statements of the accused under Section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure on Friday.

Under Section 313, accused get a final chance to put forth their stand after witnesses' statements are recorded.

The judge fixed December 3 for commencement of final arguments after defence lawyers said they would not be examining any witnesses of their own.

The prosecution examined 210 witnesses, of which 92 turned hostile.

CBI counsel B P Raju will present his arguments first.

Shaikh, an alleged gangster with terrorist links, and his wife Kausar Bi were allegedly abducted by Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad from Hyderabad when they were on their way to Sangli in Maharashtra.

Shaikh was killed in an alleged fake encounter near Gandhinagar in November 2005. His wife was allegedly killed later.

Prajapati, an aide of Shaikh who was believed to have witnessed the encounter, was allegedly killed by Gujarat and Rajasthan police officials at Chapri in Gujarat's Banaskantha district in December 2006.

The case was transferred to Mumbai in September 2012 on the request of the CBI to ensure a fair trial.

Of the 38 people charged by the CBI for the alleged fake encounters, 16, including BJP chief Amit Shah (who was minister of state for home in Gujarat then) and all senior police officials, were discharged. Twenty-two accused are facing trial.