Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case: 40 witnesses examined, many turn hostile

This week, the prosecution has lined up 11 or 12 witnesses, whose depositions will be recorded

Of the 40 witnesses who have been examined in connection with the Soharabuddin Sheikh encounter killing case so far, almost all have turned hostile, the Bombay high court was told on Monday.

On November 23, 2005, local gangster Sohrabuddin Sheikh, his wife Kausarbi and his trusted lieutenant Tulsiram Prajapati were travelling on a Hyderabad-Sangli bus when they were allegedly abducted by a team of policemen and members of a special task force. (HT File)

Advocate Gautam Tiwari, who represented Soharabuddin’s brother Rubabuddin, told the court that the trial started in November 2017 and a special CBI court examined all the witnesses.

Rubabuddin has filed three applications challenging the discharge of police officers Dhayaji Vanzara, Dinesh MN and Dalpat Singh Rathod from the case. The CBI has also challenged the discharge of Rathod and that of Dr Narendra Amin.

Tiwari urged justice Revati Mohite-Dere to take up Rubabuddin’s pleas for hearing at the earliest, saying the trial was being conducted hastily, with the testimony of three to four witnesses being recorded daily.

This week, the prosecution has lined up 11 or 12 witnesses, whose depositions will be recorded, the lawyer added.

He was responding to pleas of adjournment made by additional solicitor general Anil Singh, who represented the CBI and Dr Amin, an IPS officer who has been discharged from the case and who appeared in person on Monday.

The two sought more time to argue their respective cases, but justice Mohite-Dere was not inclined to adjourn the matters. He judge has now posted all the pleas for final hearing on February 9.