It was very short notice, I will appear on Friday:Shah

A statement issued in the name of Gujarat minister of state for Home Shri Amit Shah on Thursday evening says that he was out of headquarter today for personal work. The time given to him by CBI was just three hours, and in such short notice he couldn’t make it.

Shah in his statement says, he would appear before CBI on Friday. Shah says, the allegations against him are baseless, and there is nothing on record in his capacity of MOS home. Shah said as he is innocent, he is ready to appear before CBI.

Addressing the people of Gujarat, Shah said this is an attempt of political encounter and as Congress has not been successful to do well in Gujarat politically, such tactics are being used.

Full text

Due to some pressing personal reasons, I was out of the headquarters today and it was during this time that the CBI served a summons at my residence. By the time I got the message it was way beyond the 1 pm deadline set by the CBI. It’s surprising that an agency like the CBI behaved like this with the state government ministers. It’s not just surprising, but also suspicious.

If the CBI would have given me enough time, I would have appeared before them but by serving me a summons at such a short notice it gave mischievous elements to spread baseless allegations against me that I was running away from law. Before I appear before the CBI tomorrow, I want to present some facts before the people of Gujarat.

The Sohrabuddin case has gone through various procedures of law. Even a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has investigated the case and never ever did my name crop up either in the capacity of the minister of state or individually. Despite that the Congress led government in order to carry out a ‘political encounter’ got my name dragged into the controversy.

The courts will decide whether the encounter was fake or not, but I as an individual have always respected the constitution and the rule of law. The baseless mindless allegations against me and the BJP government are being spread at the behest of the Congress government in power.