Sohrabuddin Shaikh.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
The Bombay High Court on Thursday (May 7, 2026) dismissed appeals filed by family members of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, his wife Kausar Bi and associate Tulsiram Prajapati. The appeals challenged a special court’s judgment that acquitted 22 policemen from Gujarat in the encounter case.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad pronounced the order in open court. A detailed copy of the order is awaited.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had told the Bench in November last year that it had “accepted” the special court’s judgment acquitting all 22 policemen.
Sohrabuddin was killed in an encounter in November 2005 along with his wife. The couple was allegedly taken into custody by police officers of Gujarat and Rajasthan. His associate Tulsiram Prajapati was killed a year later.
While investigating the three deaths, the CBI arrested several officers of Gujarat and Rajasthan police. The agency also arrested BJP leader and present Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the case. Mr. Shah was discharged from the case in December 2014.
Of the 38 accused in the case, 16, including Mr. Shah, were discharged. The only accused who faced trial were the police inspectors and constables from Gujarat and Rajasthan police.
The case saw 92 prosecution witnesses out of the total 210 turn against the prosecution. Some witnesses, including the mother of Tulsiram Prajapati and the brother of Sohrabuddin, chose not to depose before the court. They said they had no trust in the court and the prosecution as several accused had been discharged.
The appeals were filed by Sohrabuddin’s brothers Rubabuddin and Nayabuddin. Both challenged the special court’s order that acquitted the policemen. The Bench dismissed the appeals on Thursday (May 7, 2026).
Published – May 07, 2026 12:59 pm IST
