SC wants to shift Sohrabuddin case trial to Maharashtra, decision of Amit Shah’s Gujarat entry likely on September 4th

New Delhi, 28 August 2012

The Supreme Court of India bench headed by justice Aftab Alam on Tuesday 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 western Indian state of Maharashtra.

A bench comprising justices Aftab Alam and Ranjana Prakash Desai said it has strong reservation over holding the trial of the case in the state adding that trial has to go to Maharashtra.

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 Bharatiya Janata Party (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 not be kept away from political activities and should be permitted to be in Gujarat under the surveillance of CBI officials in view of the upcoming assembly elections.

Shah is BJP MLA elected from Sarkhej seat in Ahmedabad. Gujarat assembly elections are going to take place later this year.