Bombay High Court Upholds Acquittal of All Accused in Sohrabuddin Fake Encounter Case
Broken links, no direct evidence of encounter: Why Bombay High Court flagged CBI probe gaps in Sohrabuddin case
The Indian Express
Image: The Indian Express
The Bombay High Court upheld the acquittal of 22 accused, including 21 police officers, in the Sohrabuddin Shaikh fake encounter case, citing a lack of direct evidence and numerous gaps in the prosecution's circumstantial case. The court dismissed appeals from Sohrabuddin's brothers against the 2018 verdict, reinforcing the presumption of innocence for the accused.
- 01The court found the prosecution's case based solely on circumstantial evidence with significant gaps.
- 02All 22 accused, including senior police officers, were acquitted due to lack of direct evidence.
- 03The court emphasized the need for a holistic view of the evidence rather than a myopic approach.
- 04Witness testimonies were largely unreliable, with many witnesses turning hostile.
- 05The acquittal decision from 2018 was reaffirmed, concluding that the conspiracy theory was not proven.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
The Bombay High Court has upheld the acquittal of 22 accused, including 21 police officers from Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh, in the alleged fake encounter killings of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife Kauser Bi, and Tulsiram Prajapati. The court's decision, led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, highlighted the prosecution's reliance on circumstantial evidence, which was deemed insufficient due to numerous broken links and a lack of direct evidence. The court dismissed appeals from Sohrabuddin's brothers against the 2018 acquittal, stating that the prosecution failed to establish key elements of the case, including the alleged abduction and illegal detention of the victims. Witness testimonies were found to be unreliable, with many witnesses turning hostile, further weakening the prosecution's case. The bench concluded that the acquittal judgment could not be overturned lightly, reinforcing the presumption of innocence for the accused.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
The ruling raises concerns about accountability in police actions and the challenges faced by families seeking justice in cases of alleged police misconduct.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
Do you believe the judicial system adequately holds police accountable in cases of alleged misconduct?
Connecting to poll...
More about Central Bureau of Investigation
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.