Shah heads extortion syndicate: CBI in SC

The CBI reiterated before the Supreme Court its earlier allegation that former Gujarat minister of state for Home and key aide of Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

The CBI on Tuesday reiterated before the Supreme Court its earlier allegation that former Gujarat minister of state for Home and key aide of Chief Minister Narendra Modi,Amit Shah,was heading an extortion syndicate,which was also responsible for the death in a fake encounter of Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Kauser Bi.

During resumed hearing of the agencys plea for cancellation of Shahs bail on the ground that his considerable clout could result in intimidation of witnesses,Additional Solicitor General Vivek Tankha cited statements recorded before the judicial magistrate and disclosure statements by various witnesses who have accused Shah of running an extortion racket.

Appearing before the bench of Justices Aftab Alam and Ranjana Desai,Tankha said several real estate owners and businessmen had testified that the former minister had let loose a reign of terror by engaging senior police officials like D G Vanzara,who is also behind bars,to extort money.

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Tankha alleged that Tulsiram Prajapati,one of the witnesses,was eliminated by the Gujarat Police as he knew about the killing of Sohrabuddin and his wife Kauser Bi in November 2005.

The CBI had moved the court last year after Shah was granted bail by the Gujarat High Court. Last year,in a special sitting,the Supreme Court had directed Shah to stay out of Gujarat.

Earlier too in March,during hearing of a petition by Narmada Bai seeking investigation by the CBI into the alleged fake encounter death of her son,Tulsiram Prajapati,the CBI had told the Supreme Court Shah was heading an extortion racket having politician-police-criminal nexus.

Amit Shah was the head of the extortion racket involving politicians,police and criminals, the CBI counsel had told the SC.

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