Gujarat encounter cases: Change in prosecutors?

AHMEDABAD: In a possible change of guard in prosecution in two of Gujarat's most sensitive fake encounter cases two CBI public prosecutors fighting Sadiq Jamal Mehtar and Sohrabuddin Shaikh-Tulsi Prajapati fake encounter cases are likely to be replaced.

I H Syed, special public prosecutor in Sadiq Jamal case, has written to the CBI requesting that he be relieved from his duty. The CBI has asked him to continue till a replacement is found.

Another public prosecutor, Ejaz Khan, who represented the CBI in the twin encounters of Sohrabuddin and Tulsiram, has been relieved of his duties following his promotion. CBI spokesperson Dharini Mishra told TOI, "Prosecution lawyer Ejaz Khan has been relieved as he has been promoted. Senior public prosecutor P V Raju has been appointed in his place."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's close aide and former minister of state for home Amit Shah is an accused in the Sohrabuddin-Tulsi case. Shah is currently out on bail and has filed a discharge plea in Mumbai CBI court. During elections Modi and Shah had accused CBI of aiding a political witch-hunt by the Congress.