SC ORDERS CBI PROBE INTO SOHRABUDDIN FAKE ENCOUNTER

The Narendra Modi-led Gujarat government suffered a major setback when the Supreme Court directed it to hand over the fake encounter case of Sohrabuddin Sheikh to CBI. The Court came down heavily on the state government for failing to conduct impartial investigations and for attempting to mislead the Court by filing conflicting action taken reports. The court asked CBI to complete the investigation of the extra-judicial killings of Sheikh and his wife Kauser Bi within six months from the date of taking over the case. “The police authorities of the state (Gujarat) are directed to hand over the records of the present case to CBI authorities within a fortnight,” said a bench comprising Justice Tarun Chatterjee and Justice Aftab Alam. “CBI authorities shall investigate all aspects of the case relating to the killing of Sohrabuddin and his wife Kauser Bi including the alleged possibility of a larger conspiracy,” the Court said. It asked the police authorities of Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan to co-operate with CBI authorities in conducting the investigation properly and in an appropriate manner.