The Supreme Court on Monday allowed BJP General Secretary Amit Shah to be exempted from appearing every alternate week before the CBI as a condition for bail granted to him in the Sohrabuddin fake encounter killing.
Shah, who is a MlA from Gujarat, was pinning hopes on the court order since he had recently been elevated in the party ranks as the election in-charge for Uttar Pradesh. The apex court order of September 27, 2012 required him to be present in the CBI office every alternate Saturday.
Shah claimed that since the passing of order, the case being heard by a court in Mumbai had proceeded to trial stage. The bench of Chief Justice P Sathasivam and Justice Ranjana Desai said, “We are inclined to modify the said condition.” However, the Court did not alter the remaining conditions of bail as recorded in the September 27 order.
CBI had opposed Shah’s application citing an apprehension that being an influential person and a former state Home Minister, he could influence or threaten witnesses. But the bench overlooked the objection as the earlier order granting bail to Shah imposed sufficient safeguards to ensure fair trial.