Shift Sohrabuddin case from Gujarat: CBI

The CBI moved an application in the Supreme Court seeking transfer of the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter trial outside Gujarat.

The CBI on Thursday moved an application in the Supreme Court seeking transfer of the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter trial outside Gujarat.

In its plea,the CBI said it was not possible to conduct a fair trial in the midst of a surcharged atmosphere in the state with witnesses constantly in fear of their lives from the accused.

The fact that former state home minister Amit Shah and senior police officials are accused in the case would terrorise the minds of the witnesses if the trial is held in Gujarat,the CBI contended. Fair and impartial trial requires a calm atmosphere. In every likelihood the witnesses may feel inhibited in deposing against the minister, the agency said.

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Noting that the accused have been banking on pressure tactics even during the preliminary inquiry,the agency said that many in the accused have kith and kin within the state judiciary. The SC had transferred the Sohrabuddin case to the CBI on January 12,2010 following lapses on the part of the state police to conduct a fair probe.

In its second status report on November 26,the CBI claimed that its probe had revealed the nexus between policemen,politicians and gangsters in the state. Shah was earlier granted bail by the Supreme Court on the condition that he remains outside Gujarat. The case is posted for hearing on January 27.