SC pulls up CBI for questioning Gujarat judiciary's impartiality in Sohrabuddin Sheikh's killing

The CBI was today pulled up by the Supreme Court for questioning the impartiality of Gujarat's lower judiciary in hearing the case against former state Home Minister Amit Shah for his alleged role in Sohrabuddin Sheikh's killing by police in a staged shootout.

Taking strong exception to the agency's plea that lower judiciary in Gujarat will not deal with the case impartially, a bench of justices Aftab Alam and Ranjana Prakash Desai sought its explanation for making the statement.

"Let us know whether you want to retain it (allegations against judicial system) or you want to delete it," the bench asked the CBI as the Gujarat government pointed out the allegations made by the agency in its petition to the apex court, challenging the Gujarat High Court order granting bail to 46-year-old Shah in the fake encounter case.

The CBI petition had also sought transfer of the case to a place outside Gujarat.

"Why you said so? It's contemptuous. Why and how did you say this?," the bench asked.

Replying to the court's query, Additional Solicitor General Vivek Tankha, appearing for the CBI, submitted that he will satisfy the court on these allegations and wants to retain them.

The Gujarat government, however, strongly opposed the agency's plea and contended that the allegations levelled by the CBI for not getting free and fair trial were unfounded and baseless.

It also pleaded that there will be no law and order problem in the state during the trial and the case must not be shifted out.