Gujarat Minister of State for Home Amit Shah on Thursday failed to respond to the summons issued by the Central Bureau of Investigation for questioning in connection with the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case.
The CBI, however, issued fresh summons to him, asking him to come to its office here by 1 p.m. on Friday.
Mr. Shah said he would abide by it and be present at the CBI office in time. The reason for his failure to turn up on Thursday was the “late issuance” of the summons.
“Not on the run”
In a statement, the Minister said he was out on some personal work and did not receive the CBI intimation in time. “I am not on the run and I will be there to answer all questions of the CBI tomorrow [Friday].”
Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani said Mr. Shah would respond to the CBI summons on Friday.
According to informed sources, the CBI was looking for the Minister to serve the summons but could not locate him at any known place. Finally, the summons, asking him to appear by 1 p.m. on Thursday, was pasted on the wall of his Naranpura residence in Ahmedabad in the morning.
A copy of the summons was sent to his ministerial bungalow here and another handed over to his office staff at the Secretariat building here. But he was untraceable till the appointed time.
CBI DIG P. Kandaswamy, who is heading the investigation team, urged the media not to indulge in speculative reporting. Such reportage was likely to cause misunderstandings.
Health Minister Jaynarayan Vyas described the summons as “part of the legal process.” As usual the government would fully cooperate with the legal process, he said.
State BJP spokesman Vijay Rupani alleged that the summons was an attempt by the UPA government to destabilise the Modi government.
Sohrabuddin's brother Rubabuddin Sheikh, whose petition in the Supreme Court led to fresh investigation in the case, demanded Mr. Shah's resignation as he was “summoned” by the CBI.
