Amit Shah’s bail plea decision Oct 29

GANDHINAGAR - The Gujarat High Court Wednesday reserved till Oct 29 its order on the bail plea of former minister Amit Shah, a key accused in the 2005 Sohrabuddin Sheikh staged shootout killing.

Justice R.H. Shukla reserved the order till Oct 29 after hearing counsel for Shah and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Shah has been charged with murder, extortion and kidnapping. He moved the high court for bail after his application was rejected by a special CBI court. He was arrested July 25.

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has been accused of killing Sheikh in a staged shootout Nov 26, 2005, in Ahmedabad. His wife is suspected to have been killed at a farmhouse near the city two days later.

Over a dozen policemen, including Indian Police Service officers, have been arrested for the killings.

On Wednesday, counsel Mukul Sinha, appearing for Sohrabuddin’s brother Rubabuddin Sheikh, argued that Sohrabuddin’s wife Kausarbi was not killed at a farmhouse.

He alleged that she was killed in an ATS office three days after police claimed to have killed her husband in a staged shootout.

Nirupam Nanavaty, appearing on behalf of Shah, argued that Shah has been victimised by the CBI.

He argued that the whole drama was to target Shah.

Earlier during the arguments, senior counsel K.T.S. Tulsi, appearing for the CBI, said that Shah had the backing of the state government.

The whole state’s machinery was being utilised to support Shah in the case. Opposing the bail plea, Tulsi had argued that Shah was making desperate attempts to tamper with the evidence and has been threatening witnesses.