SC directs Guj Police to supply chargesheet

New Delhi, July 16: The Supreme Court today directed Gujarat Police to supply a copy of the chargesheet to Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam latest by July 20 in Sohrabuddin fake encounter case.

Mr Subramaniam is appearing as amicus curiae in the case and has asked for a copy of the chargesheet to examine whether proper investigation has been conducted by the state police or the chargesheet is being filed in a hurry, so that the accused in the case who include former DIG Special Task Force Gujarat Police G D Vanzara and two other IPS officers, may escape.

Counsel for the petitioner however, alleged that the investigation in the case has been shoddy and the accused may be accquited in the trial. Petitioner Rubbabuddin Sheikh is demanding CBI enquiry into the alleged murder of his brother Sohrabuddin Sheikh and his sister-in-law Kausar Bi in November 2005 by Gujarat Police.

A bench comprising Justices Tarun Chatterjee and P K Balasubramanyan adjourned the case till July 23.

Gujarat Police earlier informed the court that investigation in the case is complete and the chargesheet has already been filed and the state police did not reveal the contents of the chargesheet citing security of prosecution witnesses as the reason for maintaining secrecy.

The only eyewitness in the case Tulsiram Prajapati was also eliminated by the police in a fake encounter. The apex court had earlier refused to order a CBI enquiry in the case after it found the investigation carried out by the state police as highly satisfactory.

UNI