SC issues show cause notice to Guj for 2002-2007 fake encounters

New Delhi, Sep 3 (UNI) The Supreme Court today issued a show cause notice to the state of Gujarat, seeking an explanation on the role played by state Police in the alleged fake encounters which had taken place in the state from 2002 to 2007.

A bench comprising Justices Tarun Chatterjee and Aftab Alam issued the notice on a petition filed by eminent lyricist Javed Akhtar seeking a CBI enquiry in all the 21 fake encounters admitted by the Narendra Modi Government in the State Assembly.

Mr Akhtar, husband of film actress Shabana Azmi, in his petition, has also prayed for a CBI probe into the killing of one Sameer Khan in a fake encounter.

The same bench is also hearing a petition for a CBI enquiry into the killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh and his wife Kauser Bi in the fake encounter case in November 2005.

Several senior officers, including the then DIG of the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) D G Vanzara, the then SP of Udaipur, Rajasthan, M N Dinesh, are facing trial for their alleged involvement in the killing of Sohrabuddin.

The apex court has, however, found the investigation of the Gujarat police in the Sohrabuddin case satisfactory and has not ordered a CBI enquiry till date, inspite of the fact that the Union Government has offered to conduct a CBI enquiry into the case.

The apex court adjourned the hearing till the second week of November.

UNI SC SBC BD1715