Sohrabuddin ‘fake’ encounter case verdict: Sohrabuddin’s brothers Najamuddin Sheikh and Rubabuddin at the special CBI court in November (Express photo by Prashant Nadkar)
A Special CBI court in Mumbai Friday acquitted all 22 accused in the alleged fake encounter killings of Sohrabuddin Shaikh and Tulsiram Prajapati and the alleged murder of Shaikh’s wife, Kauserbi. The court found that the prosecution could not prove a nexus between the accused and the alleged offences. Special Judge S J Sharma said the prosecution tried its best to prove the case, but cannot help if witnesses turn hostile. The accused, including serving and retired police officials from Gujarat, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh, were charged with murder and criminal conspiracy among other charges.
The CBI had accused the 22 of abducting Shaikh and killing him in a fake encounter in November 2005, while Kauserbi was killed days later and Prajapati in December 2006. The trial in the case began in November 2017. Of the 210 witnesses examined, at least 92 had turned hostile during trial.
'Fake' encounter case verdict today LIVE UPDATES: Sohrabuddin Shaikh with his wife Kauserbi.
Reaction of retired Superintendent of Police NK Amin on Sohrabuddin Shaikh encounter case verdict. Amin was a co-accused in this case who was discharged by CBI court.
Special Judge S J Sharma has said the CBI failed to prove its case; the circumstantial evidence was not substantial to suggest or establish the alleged conspiracy.
The case pertains to the the alleged abduction and killing of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, a wanted criminal, his wife Kauserbi and aide Tulsiram Prajapati on November 23, 2005. According to the accused, Shaikh was a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative and was on his way to Gujarat to “assassinate a big political leader”.
All 22 accused have been acquitted in the case, no charge could be proved against anyone. The Court has accepted that Sohrabuddin died of bullet injuries but it could not be proved that the accused were allegedly involved. In the matter of the Kausar Bi case, the court mentioned that the prosecutor is not responsible for witnesse turning hostile, says defence lawyer after CBI court's verdict.
The Special CBI Court in Mumbai has found that the government and prosecution put in a lot of effort; 210 witnesses were brought in but satisfactory evidence didn't come up and witnesses turned hostile. No fault of the prosecutor if witnesses don't speak, it adds.
All 22 accused in the alleged Sohrabuddin fake encounter case have been acquitted of all charges including murder, criminal conspiracy. A Special CBI court in Mumbai says the prosecution could not prove a nexus between the accused with the alleged offence.