When riots cases not shifted,why should Sohrabuddin case: Guj

New Delhi, Nov 29: Gujarat government today opposed in the Supreme Court the plea for shifting the trial of Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter killing case outside the state saying the apex court itself reposed faith in its judiciary by refusing to transfer the post-Godhra riot cases.

The state government referred to the apex court verdict of May 1, 2009, by which nine cases of of the 2002 riots were allowed to be tried in Gujarat.

"The nine major cases of the 2002 probed by the apex court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) was not transferred outside the state and allowed to continue in the state," Gujarat's Additional Advocate General Tushar Mehta told a bench of Justices Aftab Alam and Ranjana Prakash Desai.

He said fair and effective trial was going on as per the direction of the apex court. The advocate said Gujarat government will have no objection if a similar direction was issued by the apex court and it would abide by any direction for the safety and protection of witnesses.

PTI