Dushyant Dave says attempt to shun probe; Rohatgi dubs it kite-flying

NEW DELHI: A lawyers’ association that is demanding a probe into the sudden death of judge BH Loya alleged in the Supreme Court that there was an orchestrated attempt to shun such an investigation. Justice Loya was the special CBI judge hearing the politically sensitive Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case.

Appearing for the Bombay Lawyers’ Association, senior advocate Dushyant Dave said on Monday that media reports alleging foul play in the judge’s death were well researched and should not be dismissed as mere cockand-bull stories.

Dave also pointed to what he termed as self-serving medical and inquiry reports as also statements by some of the judge’s peers that it was a “natural death”.


“Who are you trying to serve? Why was his son asked to issue a statement (that the family had no suspicions about the circumstance of the death)? Every effort is being made to shun a probe. It is troubling. Such an unashamedly orchestrated attempt is a blot on the judiciary, a blot on democracy,” he said.

“Judicial independence is at stake. The judge died while handling a sensit ive case,” he said, demanding that the court must order a probe.

Chief Justice Dipak Misra, who is heading a three member judge considering the plea, said the court would order a probe if there was the “slightest suspicion”.

Meanwhile, another application was filed in court by activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan on behalf of NGO CPIL, bringing statements by medical experts to claim that the death of judge Loya could not have been due to a heart attack, but could be due to poisoning. Hearing in the case will continue Thursday.