Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani on Saturday met Gujarat ex-Minister Amit Shah, an accused in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter killing case, in Sabarmati Jail.
Mr. Advani, along with State BJP in-charge Balbir Punj, went to the Sabarmati Jail and met Mr. Shah.
The two leaders later went to Mr. Shah’s residence in Naranpura area to meet his family members.
“The Centre is using CBI as a tool to defame our government which is absolutely incorrect. People will give them a reply. The result of yesterday’s bye-election is not ordinary,” Mr. Advani said after meeting Mr. Shah’s family members.
He was referring to the BJP’s victory in the Kathlal Assembly constituency considered to be a Congress stronghold.
Mr. Advani’s visit assumes significance as it indicates that the BJP is firmly backing Mr. Shah, though he has been arrested by the CBI.
The BJP has throughout maintained that Mr. Shah is innocent and has been implicated in the fake encounter case of 2005.
Mr. Shah, a close aide of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, has been described by the CBI as the “kingpin” of the entire conspiracy leading to the encounter of Sheikh, killing of his wife Kausar Bi and also Tulsi Prajapati, a key witness.
