Supreme Court Declines to Review Amit Shah's Discharge in Sohrabuddin Encounter Case
The Supreme Court ruled there is no question of revisiting Amit Shah's 2014 discharge in the Sohrabuddin encounter case while hearing Rubabuddin Sheikh's appeal.
On Monday, a Supreme Court bench ruled that no question exists about reviewing the discharge of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the controversial Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case. The court was hearing an appeal filed by Rubabuddin Sheikh, brother of the deceased, who contests the Bombay High Court’s May 7 decision upholding the acquittal of 22 individuals, including 21 police officers. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, asked the Central Bureau of Investigation and the accused to submit their statements.
The case stems from alleged fake encounters that killed Sohrabuddin Sheikh, his aide Tulsiram Prajapati and Sheikh’s wife Kauser Bi in Gujarat in 2005-2006, with accusations that Shah ordered the killings. A special CBI court had cleared all accused in 2018, and the Supreme Court had previously dismissed a 2016 petition by activist Harish Mander seeking a fresh probe. The judges noted the seriousness of the matter and will examine witness statements to assess the fairness of the trial.
Why it matters
The ruling limits further judicial scrutiny of a high-profile political figure’s alleged role in a controversial police killing.
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