Justice Loya case: Two cases of Bombay HC transferred to Supreme Court, next hearing in February

Social activist Tehseen Poonawala is the second petitioners in the case.

Two cases of Bombay High Court related to Justice Loya's death have been transferred to the Supreme Court. The court directed that no other high court should entertain petitions on the issue.

Maharashtra government told Supreme Court that a careful and prudent investigation was conducted after the media reports and four judicial officers assured there was no foul play involved in Justice Loya's death.

The three-judge bench recorded statements saying Justice Loya died of cardiac arrest.

The court fixed the first week of February for further hearing. The Bench said it would examine all the documents related to the death of Justice Loya.

The Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra was hearing two petitions seeking an independent probe into the death of Special CBI Court judge BM Loya who was holding the trial in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh staged shootout case.

Bandhuraj Lone, one of the petitioners, said, "I'm hopeful the decision will be in our favour. I believe justice will be served to Justice Loya. We demand that the case is heard in an independent organisation."

Social activist Tehseen Poonawala is the second petitioners in the case.

The apex court on January 19, 2018, had fixed January 22 for the hearing and had directed listing of petitions before "an appropriate bench".

Gangster Sohrabuddin Shaikh, who the Gujarat police claimed was also a terrorist, was killed in an alleged fake encounter by the Gujarat and Rajasthan police in 2005. His wife Kausar Bi disappeared and was alleged to have been eliminated by police. Shaikh's associate Tulsi Prajapati was also later killed in an alleged fake encounter.

The CBI took over the probe in February 2010 and filed charge sheet in July the same year against 23 accused, including Amit Shah, who at that time was the minister of state for home in Gujarat.

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