The special CBI court here on Friday granted a day’s exemption to Amit Shah, former Gujarat State Home Minister and close aide of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, from personal appearance in the Tulsiram Prajapati alleged fake encounter case.
The exemption was allowed only for Friday’s hearing. The next hearing is slated for June 20.
In his application, Mr. Shah stated that he was a diabetic and had to undergo medical tests and treatment. The CBI opposed the application claiming that no medical papers were attached to the application. The court, however, granted the exemption.
On June 16, the court is likely to decide on the discharge application filed by Mr. Shah in February.
He had sought discharge on the grounds that the conspiracy was hatched by the arrested police officers and that he had no role to play. Mr. Shah said the CBI could not produce any witnesses against him. The agency opposed the application, claiming that he was one of the main accused in the case, and discharging him would vitiate the entire process.
Prajapati, an eyewitness to the alleged fake encounter killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Kauser Bi in November 2005, was allegedly eliminated by the Gujarat police in December 2006.
