CBI has reportedly asked the Supreme Court (SC) to shift the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case outside Gujarat for a fair trial.
On Friday, the agency gave a status report on the investigation and some documents to the SC registry in a sealed cover. The records reportedly back allegations of involvement of top Gujarat police officers in the encounter.
Though details of the report would be known only when the court hears petitions relating to the case, sources said CBI had also sought transfer of trials of former Gujarat DGP DG Vanzara, other IPS officers and the Prajapati case out of the BJP-ruled state, saying the atmosphere in Gujarat wasn’t conducive to a fair trial. Besides, the agency fears some “senior politicians and police officers” would exert influence hampering a just trial and further probe.
CBI is also believed to have sought the apex court’s permission for “further investigation” into the involvement of the “political leadership” of Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Sources say CBI feels the involvement of political leadership may go beyond Gujarat home minister and chief minister Narendra Modi’s confidante Amit Shah, who has been arrested and is being questioned. CBI is also said to be examining certain incriminating “documents” carrying references to Modi.
The agency feels once three senior police officers — Geeta Johri, PC Pandey and OP Mathur — are questioned, the conspiracy to eliminate Sheikh, his wife and Prajapati would become clear. Prajapati was killed shortly after Johri had decided to examine him as a “witness to the kidnapping of Sheikh” in 2006.
Comments