‘Decision not to challenge Shah’s discharge conscious’

Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation’s decision not to challenge the discharge granted to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh alleged fake encounter case in 2014 was a “conscious” and “reasonable” move, the agency told the Bombay high court Wednesday.

Seeking dismissal of two public interest litigations (PILs) questioning the CBI’s decision, the central agency said the pleas are “politically motivated” and “publicity stunts”.

The petitioner’s counsel, however, argued that the CBI had changed its stand on Mr Shah after the change of government at the Centre in 2014. CBI Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh told the court that the investigating agency had studied the trial court’s order granting discharge to Mr Shah as well as various subsequent orders of appellate courts upholding the same. Two PILs were filed in the HC urging it to ask the CBI why it had chosen not to challenge Mr Shah’s discharge, though the agency had filed revision applications against the discharge of two other persons in the case.

A bench of Justices Ranjit More and Bharati Dangre Wednesday heard the PILs, filed by the Bombay Lawyers’ Association (BLA) and a local journalist. The bench has reserved its order. A special CBI court had in 2014 discharged Mr Shah in the “fake encounter”.