E-Paper
Did not seek shifting of Sohrab trial:CBI
The Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday denied reports that it had asked the Supreme Court to shift the trial of the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case outside Gujarat.
The Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday denied reports that it had asked the Supreme Court to shift the trial of the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case outside Gujarat.
The CBI “wants a fair trial in Gujarat, and has full faith in judiciary in the state”, the prosecuting agency’s lawyer KTS Tulsi said, while arguing on its plea seeking custody of former Gujarat minister Amit Shah before a special CBI court.
“In the (status) report submitted in the Supreme Court, CBI has not sought shifting of trial from Gujarat,” Tulsi said.
The CBI’s clarification comes two days after Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi attacked the agency, saying: “The CBI’s attempt to seek transfer of the trial outside Gujarat is an insult to the judicial system, judges and lawyers in Gujarat.”
However, CBI officials privately said Monday’s statement was part of the agency’s strategy in probing the encounter.
“We have not mentioned shifting of the trial from Gujarat in the status report because it’s very early at this stage,” a CBI official said.
“As of now, we have sought (taking over) the probe of the Tulsi Prajapati case from the Gujarat police and further investigation in Rajasthan.”
A request for shifting the trial may be sought after the investigation is over, he added. Shah was arrested on July 25 by the CBI on charges of murder, kidnapping and extortion in the fake encounter case.
