CBI to probe RTI activist murder case

The Gujarat high court has ordered a CBI probe into the murder of RTI activist Amit Jethva, who had tried to expose the nexus between the mining mafia and politicians in illegal mining of limestone from government lands.

The Gujarat high court has ordered a CBI probe into the murder of RTI activist Amit Jethva, who had tried to expose the nexus between the mining mafia and politicians in illegal mining of limestone from government lands.

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The role of BJP's Junagadh parliamentarian Dinu Solanki will now come under the scanner, as Jethva's family had accused him of involvement in the murder.

Jethva was shot dead on July 20, 2010, outside the Gujarat high court after he had filed a PIL against illegal mining in the Gir forest area.

While handing over the probe to the central agency on Tuesday, a division bench of Justices DH Vaghela and JC Upadhyay criticised the Gujarat police.

"Its probe was far from satisfactory and to instill a sense of confidence and justice in the case, the court is compelled to transfer it to the central agency," the court said.

The Ahmedabad crime branch, which investigated the case, had given a clean chit to Solanki and arrested his nephew Shiva Solanki for allegedly giving out a contract to kill Jethva.

The police also arrested contract killer Shailesh Pandya, who had allegedly shot the activist.