Sohrabuddin case: SC wants trial to be shifted to Maharashtra

The Supreme Court today said it would consider allowing former Gujarat Minister Amit Shah, an accused in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, to enter the state in view of the upcoming assembly polls but would like the trial of the case to be shifted to Maharashtra.

"That is one aspect. That must come to an end (keeping him outside the state)," a bench comprising justices Aftab Alam and Ranjana Prakash Desai said.

However, the bench said it has strong reservation over holding the trial of the case in the state.

"We have strong reservation about the trial to be conducted in the state. Trial has to go to Maharashtra," the bench said.

The bench posted the matter for September 4 after senior advocate Ram Jethmalani said he would like to make short oral arguments and will also place written submissions on the issue of bail and transfer of case of the BJP leader.

Jethmalani had submitted that the court should lift the condition imposed on Shah, when he was granted bail, that he would keep himself out of Gujarat.

Jethmalani submitted that Shah should be permitted to be in Gujarat under the surveillance of CBI officials in view of the upcoming assembly elections.

"Don't keep him away from political activities," he submitted. Meanwhile, the court also asked the CBI to take a decision within couple of days on its probe relating to the killing of Tulsiram Prajapati, who was one of the key witness in the killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh.

The bench stated this after CBI counsel Vivek Tankha said that the CBI probe in Prajapati killing case was complete and the agency would file the charge sheet within a week or so.