The BJP on Tuesday accused the Congress leadership of using the CBI to manufacture evidence in the Sohrabuddin Shaikh case to "politically destroy" its president Amit Shah who, it said, has come out of this "trial by fire" unscathed.

The ruling party fielded Smriti Irani to attack Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi, whom the Union minister accused of supporting terrorists in his tweet that said "nobody killed" Shaikh and he "just died".

Rahul Gandhi had tweeted this after a special CBI court in Mumbai on December 21 acquitted all 22 accused in the case of the killing of Shaikh, his wife Kausar Bi and his aide Tulsi Prajapati in alleged fake encounters by Gujarat police between 2005 and 2006 citing insufficient evidence.

Shah, who was the minister of state for home in Gujarat at that time, was also arrested briefly in 2010 in the case before being discharged in December 2014.

"It is now clear that the CBI had arrested Amit Shah in 2010 at the prodding of the Congress leadership," Irani said.

She alleged Shah was targeted by the CBI as a part of a "political conspiracy" of the Congress and its then-president because Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the then Gujarat chief minister, and Shah were seen as political rivals by the party.

"The Congress and its president used the CBI to manufacture evidence to politically destroy Shah. It is one of the finest examples of the length to which the Congress will go to destroy its political opponents," she said.

She described the case as a trial by fire for Shah and said he came out unscathed, as the country's verdict had shown that "truth cannot be destroyed".

There was no immediate response from the Congress to her allegations.

The Congress is always willing to trample upon justice and the Constitution to finish off its political rivals, Irani alleged.&nbsp;

Targeting Rahul Gandhi, she said his tweet was an expression of frustration that Shah came out of the case unscathed despite eight years of harassment.

Following the court's order acquitting the accused, Gandhi had tweeted, "No one killed Haren Pandya. Tulsiram Prajapati. Justice Loya. Prakash Thombre. Shrikant Khandalkar. Kauser Bi. Sohrabuddin Shiekh. They just died."&nbsp;

Irani alleged that the Congress will not spare anybody who comes in the way of its pursuit of power which it uses not to serve people but "one family".

She noted that activist Harsh Mander, who she claimed was a member of Sonia Gandhi's "kitchen cabinet", had moved the Supreme Court against Shah's discharge.

Irani read from the Mumbai court's order that criticised the CBI probe and said the agency created evidence to suit its "preconceived and premeditated" theory to implicate political leaders.

The BJP leader alleged that Shah was arrested in 2010 on the "order" of the Congress leadership and left to "rot" in jail before he was granted bail by the court.

"The court has admitted that these cases were slapped against Shah for purely political reasons. Not only in the Mumbai High Court but also in the Supreme Court, the Congress' conspiracy got defeated, " Irani told reporters.&nbsp;

To a question about AgustaWestland case accused Christian Michel's speaking of "Mrs Gandhi" and making other references which the BJP has linked to the Gandhi family, Irani said sarcastically that she was not in a position to explain it as she is neither Italian and nor her son's name begins with 'R'.

She alleged that the Congress had dispatched its lawyers to help Michel whose "historical relations" with the Gandhi family are established.

The BJP on Tuesday accused the Congress leadership of using the CBI to manufacture evidence in the Sohrabuddin Shaikh case to "politically destroy" its president Amit Shah who, it said, has come out of this "trial by fire" unscathed.

The BJP on Tuesday accused the Congress leadership of using the CBI to manufacture evidence in the Sohrabuddin Shaikh case to "politically destroy" its president Amit Shah who, it said, has come out of this "trial by fire" unscathed. The ruling party fielded Smriti Irani to attack Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi, whom the Union minister accused of supporting terrorists in his tweet that said "nobody killed" Shaikh and he "just died". Rahul Gandhi had tweeted this after a special CBI court in Mumbai on December 21 acquitted all 22 accused in the case of the killing of Shaikh, his wife Kausar Bi and his aide Tulsi Prajapati in alleged fake encounters by Gujarat police between 2005 and 2006 citing insufficient evidence. Shah, who was the minister of state for home in Gujarat at that time, was also arrested briefly in 2010 in the case before being discharged in December 2014. "It is now clear that the CBI had arrested Amit Shah in 2010 at the prodding of the Congress leadership," Irani said. She alleged Shah was targeted by the CBI as a part of a "political conspiracy" of the Congress and its then-president because Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the then Gujarat chief minister, and Shah were seen as political rivals by the party. "The Congress and its president used the CBI to manufacture evidence to politically destroy Shah. It is one of the finest examples of the length to which the Congress will go to destroy its political opponents," she said. She described the case as a trial by fire for Shah and said he came out unscathed, as the country's verdict had shown that "truth cannot be destroyed". There was no immediate response from the Congress to her allegations. The Congress is always willing to trample upon justice and the Constitution to finish off its political rivals, Irani alleged. Targeting Rahul Gandhi, she said his tweet was an expression of frustration that Shah came out of the case unscathed despite eight years of harassment. Following the court's order acquitting the accused, Gandhi had tweeted, "No one killed Haren Pandya. Tulsiram Prajapati. Justice Loya. Prakash Thombre. Shrikant Khandalkar. Kauser Bi. Sohrabuddin Shiekh. They just died." Irani alleged that the Congress will not spare anybody who comes in the way of its pursuit of power which it uses not to serve people but "one family". She noted that activist Harsh Mander, who she claimed was a member of Sonia Gandhi's "kitchen cabinet", had moved the Supreme Court against Shah's discharge. Irani read from the Mumbai court's order that criticised the CBI probe and said the agency created evidence to suit its "preconceived and premeditated" theory to implicate political leaders. The BJP leader alleged that Shah was arrested in 2010 on the "order" of the Congress leadership and left to "rot" in jail before he was granted bail by the court. "The court has admitted that these cases were slapped against Shah for purely political reasons. Not only in the Mumbai High Court but also in the Supreme Court, the Congress' conspiracy got defeated, " Irani told reporters. To a question about AgustaWestland case accused Christian Michel's speaking of "Mrs Gandhi" and making other references which the BJP has linked to the Gandhi family, Irani said sarcastically that she was not in a position to explain it as she is neither Italian and nor her son's name begins with 'R'. She alleged that the Congress had dispatched its lawyers to help Michel whose "historical relations" with the Gandhi family are established.

Congress used Sohrabuddin case to 'politically destroy' Amit Shah: BJP

Though the prosecution "tried", it failed to prove any "politician-police" nexus in the alleged fake <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sohrabuddin-sheikh-fake-encounter-case-proof-not-satisfactory-says-cbi-court-all-22-accused-acquitted-185624">encounter case of Sohrabuddin Shaikh</a>, his wife Kausar Bi and his aide Tulsiram Prajapati, a special CBI court had said while acquitting all the 22 accused on December 21.

Special CBI Judge S J Sharma had acquitted all the accused due to insufficient evidence while expressing sorrow over the loss of three lives.

"I have no hesitation to conclude that the evidence which has been laid and adduced and discussed and appreciated vividly, though the prosecution has tried, it failed to prove any politician-police nexus," he said.

The remarks were part of the 358-page judgement. Copy of the full judgement was only made available on Monday.

The court stated that the CBI probed the alleged fake encounter killings with a 'pre-conceived and premeditated' theory to implicate political leaders. 
Of the 22 accused who were acquitted, 21 were junior-level police officials from Gujarat and Rajasthan police.

The court has noted in its judgement that it was incumbent on part of the prosecution to procure sanction from appropriate authority to prosecute the 21 accused as they were all government servants.

"The 21 accused were certainly acting in the discharge of their official duties. The 21 accused were doubtlessly public servants when the alleged offence is alleged to have been committed," the judgement said."

In such circumstances, it was necessary for the investigation agency to obtain the sanction of competent authority before filing charge sheet. In absence of the sanction, the accused are entitled for acquittal," the court said.

According to the CBI, the police officials were part of teams which abducted and killed Shaikh, his wife and Prajapati in staged encounters.

The court said there was nothing to show that service weapons of the accused policemen were used in the killings.

The three victims who were returning to Sangli in Maharashtra from Hyderabad in a bus were taken into custody by a police team on the intervening night of November 22-23, 2005. The couple was taken in one vehicle and Prajapati in another.

The CBI had said Shaikh was killed on November 26, 2005, allegedly by a joint team of Gujarat and Rajasthan police, and Kausar Bi three days later. 
Prajapati, who was lodged in Udaipur Central Jail, was killed in an encounter on the Gujarat-Rajasthan border on December 27, 2006, the investigation agency had alleged.

The court also noted that the prosecution had failed to prove that Prajapati was killed in a fake and staged encounter.

"No doubt that Tulsiram Prajapati suffered a homicidal death," the court said.

It added that statements of witnesses on Prajapati escaping from the custody of Rajasthan police in December 2006 appeared "cogent and convincing". 
The court noted the evidence showed that there was an incident of cross firing between Prajapati and a police team.

The CBI had charged 38 persons, including BJP chief Amit Shah, who was the then Gujarat home minister, Gulabchand Kataria, the then Rajasthan home minister, and senior IPS officers like D G Vanzara and P C Pande in the case.

The prosecution examined 210 witnesses, of which 92 turned hostile.

Shah was arrested in the case in July 2010, but released on bail by the Gujarat High Court in October that year. He was discharged by the CBI court in December 2014.

The December 21 verdict was Judge Sharma's last judgement of his career. He is set to retire on December 31.

Though the prosecution "tried", it failed to prove any "politician-police" nexus in the alleged fake encounter case of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife Kausar Bi and his aide Tulsiram Prajapati, a special CBI court had said while acquitting all the 22 accused on December 21.

Though the prosecution "tried", it failed to prove any "politician-police" nexus in the alleged fake encounter case of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife Kausar Bi and his aide Tulsiram Prajapati, a special CBI court had said while acquitting all the 22 accused on December 21. Special CBI Judge S J Sharma had acquitted all the accused due to insufficient evidence while expressing sorrow over the loss of three lives. "I have no hesitation to conclude that the evidence which has been laid and adduced and discussed and appreciated vividly, though the prosecution has tried, it failed to prove any politician-police nexus," he said. The remarks were part of the 358-page judgement. Copy of the full judgement was only made available on Monday. The court stated that the CBI probed the alleged fake encounter killings with a 'pre-conceived and premeditated' theory to implicate political leaders. Of the 22 accused who were acquitted, 21 were junior-level police officials from Gujarat and Rajasthan police. The court has noted in its judgement that it was incumbent on part of the prosecution to procure sanction from appropriate authority to prosecute the 21 accused as they were all government servants. "The 21 accused were certainly acting in the discharge of their official duties. The 21 accused were doubtlessly public servants when the alleged offence is alleged to have been committed," the judgement said." In such circumstances, it was necessary for the investigation agency to obtain the sanction of competent authority before filing charge sheet. In absence of the sanction, the accused are entitled for acquittal," the court said. According to the CBI, the police officials were part of teams which abducted and killed Shaikh, his wife and Prajapati in staged encounters. The court said there was nothing to show that service weapons of the accused policemen were used in the killings. The three victims who were returning to Sangli in Maharashtra from Hyderabad in a bus were taken into custody by a police team on the intervening night of November 22-23, 2005. The couple was taken in one vehicle and Prajapati in another. The CBI had said Shaikh was killed on November 26, 2005, allegedly by a joint team of Gujarat and Rajasthan police, and Kausar Bi three days later. Prajapati, who was lodged in Udaipur Central Jail, was killed in an encounter on the Gujarat-Rajasthan border on December 27, 2006, the investigation agency had alleged. The court also noted that the prosecution had failed to prove that Prajapati was killed in a fake and staged encounter. "No doubt that Tulsiram Prajapati suffered a homicidal death," the court said. It added that statements of witnesses on Prajapati escaping from the custody of Rajasthan police in December 2006 appeared "cogent and convincing". The court noted the evidence showed that there was an incident of cross firing between Prajapati and a police team. The CBI had charged 38 persons, including BJP chief Amit Shah, who was the then Gujarat home minister, Gulabchand Kataria, the then Rajasthan home minister, and senior IPS officers like D G Vanzara and P C Pande in the case. The prosecution examined 210 witnesses, of which 92 turned hostile. Shah was arrested in the case in July 2010, but released on bail by the Gujarat High Court in October that year. He was discharged by the CBI court in December 2014. The December 21 verdict was Judge Sharma's last judgement of his career. He is set to retire on December 31.

Sohrabuddin case: Court says prosecution failed to prove politician-police nexus

A special CBI court in Mumbai is likely to pronounce today the verdict in the sensational Sohrabuddin Shaikh-Tulsiram Prajapati <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sohrabuddin-case-high-court-upholds-discharge-of-ex-gujarat-ats-chief-vanzara-4-others-164857">alleged fake encounter case of 2005</a> in which 22 persons, most of them policemen, are on trial.

The case <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sohrabuddin-case-claims-yet-another-judge-says-rahul-gandhi-34210">has attracted much attention as BJP chief Amit Shah</a>, who was Minister of State for Home in Gujarat at the time of the incidents, was one of the accused before being discharged in 2014. During the trial, as many as 92 prosecution witnesses turned hostile.

After the final arguments were wrapped up earlier this month, Special Judge for CBI cases S J Sharma had said he will pronounce the verdict on December 21.

Most of the accused are junior-level police officials from Gujarat and Rajasthan.

The court earlier discharged, for want of evidence, 16 of the 38 persons charge-sheeted by the CBI. These included Amit Shah, the then Rajasthan home minister Gulabchand Kataria, former Gujarat police chief P C Pande and former senior Gujarat police officer D G Vanzara.

According to the CBI, Shaikh, an alleged gangster with terror links, his wife Kausar Bi and his aide Prajapati were abducted by Gujarat police from a bus when they were on their way to Sangli in Maharashtra from Hyderabad on the night of November 22 and 23, 2005.

Shaikh was killed in an alleged fake encounter on November 26, 2005 near Ahmedabad. His wife was killed three days later and her body was disposed off, the CBI said.

A year later, on December 27, 2006, Prajapati was also shot dead by Gujarat and Rajasthan police in an alleged fake encounter near Chapri on Gujarat-Rajasthan border.

The case was initially probed by the Gujarat CID before the CBI took over in 2010. The Supreme Court in 2013 directed that the trial to&nbsp;be shifted to Mumbai from Gujarat on the central agency's request to ensure a fair trial.

The prosecution examined 210 witnesses, of which 92 turned hostile.

Even as the trial has wound down to a close, two prosecution witnesses applied to the court Wednesday that they be re-examined.

One of them, Azam Khan, an aide of Shaikh, claimed in his plea that accused Abdul Rehman, a former police inspector who had allegedly fired on Shaikh, threatened Khan that if he did not depose as told, he would be framed up in false cases.

His wife was also threatened, Khan claimed.

Another witness, Mahendra Zala, a petrol pump owner, has alleged that the prosecution did not furnish to the court his statement recorded before a magistrate.

The court will decide both pleas Friday.

A special CBI court in Mumbai is likely to pronounce today the verdict in the sensational Sohrabuddin Shaikh-Tulsiram Prajapati alleged fake encounter case of 2005 in which 22 persons, most of them policemen, are on trial.

A special CBI court in Mumbai is likely to pronounce today the verdict in the sensational Sohrabuddin Shaikh-Tulsiram Prajapati alleged fake encounter case of 2005 in which 22 persons, most of them policemen, are on trial. The case has attracted much attention as BJP chief Amit Shah, who was Minister of State for Home in Gujarat at the time of the incidents, was one of the accused before being discharged in 2014. During the trial, as many as 92 prosecution witnesses turned hostile. After the final arguments were wrapped up earlier this month, Special Judge for CBI cases S J Sharma had said he will pronounce the verdict on December 21. Most of the accused are junior-level police officials from Gujarat and Rajasthan. The court earlier discharged, for want of evidence, 16 of the 38 persons charge-sheeted by the CBI. These included Amit Shah, the then Rajasthan home minister Gulabchand Kataria, former Gujarat police chief P C Pande and former senior Gujarat police officer D G Vanzara. According to the CBI, Shaikh, an alleged gangster with terror links, his wife Kausar Bi and his aide Prajapati were abducted by Gujarat police from a bus when they were on their way to Sangli in Maharashtra from Hyderabad on the night of November 22 and 23, 2005. Shaikh was killed in an alleged fake encounter on November 26, 2005 near Ahmedabad. His wife was killed three days later and her body was disposed off, the CBI said. A year later, on December 27, 2006, Prajapati was also shot dead by Gujarat and Rajasthan police in an alleged fake encounter near Chapri on Gujarat-Rajasthan border. The case was initially probed by the Gujarat CID before the CBI took over in 2010. The Supreme Court in 2013 directed that the trial to be shifted to Mumbai from Gujarat on the central agency's request to ensure a fair trial. The prosecution examined 210 witnesses, of which 92 turned hostile. Even as the trial has wound down to a close, two prosecution witnesses applied to the court Wednesday that they be re-examined. One of them, Azam Khan, an aide of Shaikh, claimed in his plea that accused Abdul Rehman, a former police inspector who had allegedly fired on Shaikh, threatened Khan that if he did not depose as told, he would be framed up in false cases. His wife was also threatened, Khan claimed. Another witness, Mahendra Zala, a petrol pump owner, has alleged that the prosecution did not furnish to the court his statement recorded before a magistrate. The court will decide both pleas Friday.

Sohrabuddin Shaikh encounter: CBI court likely to pronounce verdict today

A special CBI court on Friday acquitted all 22 accused in the alleged fake encounter killings of gangster Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife Kausar Bi and his aide Tulsi Prajapati, citing insufficient evidence.

Following is the timeline of the case.

November 22, 2005:&nbsp;Sohrabuddin, Kausar Bi and Prajapati are intercepted by a police team in a bus while returning to Sangli from Hyderabad and are taken into custody.

Shaikh and his wife taken in one vehicle, Prajapati in another.

November 22 to 25, 2005:&nbsp;Shaikh and Kausar Bi kept in a farmhouse near Ahmedabad. Prajapati sent to Udaipur where he is lodged in prison to face trial.

November 26, 2005: Shaikh killed in an alleged fake encounter, allegedly by a joint team comprising Gujarat and Rajasthan police.

November 29, 2005:&nbsp;Kausar Bi also allegedly killed by police, her body burnt and disposed of.

December 27, 2006:&nbsp;Prajapati taken from the Udaipur central prison by a team comprising Rajasthan and Gujarat police and allegedly killed in an encounter near Sarhad Chapri on Gujarat-Rajasthan border.

&nbsp;2005-2006:&nbsp;Shaikh's family approaches the Supreme Court for the investigation into his encounter and also seeks to know the whereabouts of Kausar Bi. SC directs Gujarat state CID to conduct a probe in the case.

April 30, 2007:&nbsp;Gujarat government files a report before the Supreme Court stating Kausar Bi is dead and her body burnt and disposed of.

January 2010:&nbsp;&nbsp;Supreme Court hands over the probe to CBI.

July 23, 2010:&nbsp;CBI files charge sheet against 38 persons including the then Gujarat Home Minister Amit Shah, the then Rajasthan Home Minister Gulabchand Kataria and senior IPS officials.

July 25, 2010:&nbsp;CBI arrests Amit Shah in the case.

September 27, 2012:&nbsp;Supreme Court transfers trial in the case from Gujarat to Mumbai as sought by the CBI to ensure a fair trial.

December 30, 2014: A special CBI court in Mumbai discharges Amit Shah. Fifteen other accused including Kataria and senior IPS officials also discharged subsequently.

November 2015:&nbsp;Shaikh's brother Rubabuddin approaches the Bombay High Court to challenge Amit Shah's discharge. However, the same month, he tells the HC that he does not wish to pursue the case and withdraws his petition.

October 2017: Special CBI court in Mumbai frames charges against 22 accused.

November 2017:&nbsp; Special CBI Judge S J Sharma commences trial in the case. Prosecution examines 210 witnesses, of which 92 turned hostile.

September 2018:&nbsp;Bombay HC upholds discharge granted to senior police officers D G Vanzara, Rajkumar Pandian, NK Amin, Vipul Aggarwal, Dinesh MN and Dalpat Singh Rathod.

December 5, 2018:&nbsp;Court closes the case completion of final arguments by prosecution and defence lawyers.

December 21, 2018:&nbsp;Court acquits all 22 accused in the case after observing that prosecution failed to establish charges against them.

A special CBI court on Friday acquitted all 22 accused in the alleged fake encounter killings of gangster Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife Kausar Bi and his aide Tulsi Prajapati, citing insufficient evidence.

A special CBI court on Friday acquitted all 22 accused in the alleged fake encounter killings of gangster Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife Kausar Bi and his aide Tulsi Prajapati, citing insufficient evidence. Following is the timeline of the case. November 22, 2005: Sohrabuddin, Kausar Bi and Prajapati are intercepted by a police team in a bus while returning to Sangli from Hyderabad and are taken into custody. Shaikh and his wife taken in one vehicle, Prajapati in another. November 22 to 25, 2005: Shaikh and Kausar Bi kept in a farmhouse near Ahmedabad. Prajapati sent to Udaipur where he is lodged in prison to face trial. November 26, 2005: Shaikh killed in an alleged fake encounter, allegedly by a joint team comprising Gujarat and Rajasthan police. November 29, 2005: Kausar Bi also allegedly killed by police, her body burnt and disposed of. December 27, 2006: Prajapati taken from the Udaipur central prison by a team comprising Rajasthan and Gujarat police and allegedly killed in an encounter near Sarhad Chapri on Gujarat-Rajasthan border. 2005-2006: Shaikh's family approaches the Supreme Court for the investigation into his encounter and also seeks to know the whereabouts of Kausar Bi. SC directs Gujarat state CID to conduct a probe in the case. April 30, 2007: Gujarat government files a report before the Supreme Court stating Kausar Bi is dead and her body burnt and disposed of. January 2010: Supreme Court hands over the probe to CBI. July 23, 2010: CBI files charge sheet against 38 persons including the then Gujarat Home Minister Amit Shah, the then Rajasthan Home Minister Gulabchand Kataria and senior IPS officials. July 25, 2010: CBI arrests Amit Shah in the case. September 27, 2012: Supreme Court transfers trial in the case from Gujarat to Mumbai as sought by the CBI to ensure a fair trial. December 30, 2014: A special CBI court in Mumbai discharges Amit Shah. Fifteen other accused including Kataria and senior IPS officials also discharged subsequently. November 2015: Shaikh's brother Rubabuddin approaches the Bombay High Court to challenge Amit Shah's discharge. However, the same month, he tells the HC that he does not wish to pursue the case and withdraws his petition. October 2017: Special CBI court in Mumbai frames charges against 22 accused. November 2017: Special CBI Judge S J Sharma commences trial in the case. Prosecution examines 210 witnesses, of which 92 turned hostile. September 2018: Bombay HC upholds discharge granted to senior police officers D G Vanzara, Rajkumar Pandian, NK Amin, Vipul Aggarwal, Dinesh MN and Dalpat Singh Rathod. December 5, 2018: Court closes the case completion of final arguments by prosecution and defence lawyers. December 21, 2018: Court acquits all 22 accused in the case after observing that prosecution failed to establish charges against them.

Timeline: Sohrabuddin Shaikh 'fake encounter' case

A special CBI court hearing the Sohrabuddin Shaikh "fake encounter"&nbsp;case said that all the witnesses and proofs were not satisfactory to prove conspiracy and murder.

The court observed that "circumstantial evidence were&nbsp;not substantial". All twenty-two accused in the case were acquitted by the court.

The special CBI court in its verdict said the government machinery and prosecution had put in a lot of effort with two hundred and ten witnesses brought but "satisfactory evidence didn't come and witnesses turned hostile".&nbsp;

"It is not the fault of the prosecutor if witnesses didn't&nbsp;speak," the court said.&nbsp;"I am helpless," the special CBI judge SJ Sharma observed while referring to witnesses turning hostile and proof not being satisfactory against the twenty-two accused in the case.

Sohrabuddin Shaikh&nbsp;was allegedly killed in a fake encounter in 2005. Several police officers were on trial in the case. Most of the accused were junior-level police officials from Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Sixteen of the thirty-eight accused in the chargesheet&nbsp;filed&nbsp;earlier by the CBI were already acquitted due to lack of evidence which included BJP chief Amit Shah, the then Rajasthan home minister Gulabchand Kataria, former Gujarat police chief P C Pande and former senior Gujarat police officer D G Vanzara.

According to the CBI, Shaikh and his wife Kausar Bi and his aide Prajapati were abducted by Gujarat police from a bus when they were on their way to Sangli in Maharashtra from Hyderabad on the night of November 22 and 23, 2005.

Shaikh was killed in an alleged fake encounter on November 26, 2005 near Ahmedabad. His wife was killed three days later and her body was disposed away, the CBI had said.

A year later, on December 27, 2006, Prajapati was also shot dead in an alleged fake encounter by allegedly by Gujarat and Rajasthan police near Chapri on the Gujarat-Rajasthan border.

A special CBI court hearing the Sohrabuddin Shaikh "fake encounter" case said that all the witnesses and proofs were not satisfactory to prove conspiracy and murder.

A special CBI court hearing the Sohrabuddin Shaikh "fake encounter" case said that all the witnesses and proofs were not satisfactory to prove conspiracy and murder. The court observed that "circumstantial evidence were not substantial". All twenty-two accused in the case were acquitted by the court. The special CBI court in its verdict said the government machinery and prosecution had put in a lot of effort with two hundred and ten witnesses brought but "satisfactory evidence didn't come and witnesses turned hostile". "It is not the fault of the prosecutor if witnesses didn't speak," the court said. "I am helpless," the special CBI judge SJ Sharma observed while referring to witnesses turning hostile and proof not being satisfactory against the twenty-two accused in the case. Sohrabuddin Shaikh was allegedly killed in a fake encounter in 2005. Several police officers were on trial in the case. Most of the accused were junior-level police officials from Gujarat and Rajasthan. Sixteen of the thirty-eight accused in the chargesheet filed earlier by the CBI were already acquitted due to lack of evidence which included BJP chief Amit Shah, the then Rajasthan home minister Gulabchand Kataria, former Gujarat police chief P C Pande and former senior Gujarat police officer D G Vanzara. According to the CBI, Shaikh and his wife Kausar Bi and his aide Prajapati were abducted by Gujarat police from a bus when they were on their way to Sangli in Maharashtra from Hyderabad on the night of November 22 and 23, 2005. Shaikh was killed in an alleged fake encounter on November 26, 2005 near Ahmedabad. His wife was killed three days later and her body was disposed away, the CBI had said. A year later, on December 27, 2006, Prajapati was also shot dead in an alleged fake encounter by allegedly by Gujarat and Rajasthan police near Chapri on the Gujarat-Rajasthan border.

Sohrabuddin Shaikh 'fake encounter' case: Proof not satisfactory, says CBI court; all 22 accused acquitted

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday accused the Congress party of trivialising the power of impeachment and using it as a political tool.

In a scathing Facebook post, the senior BJP leader said the 114-page judgement in the Judge Loya death case authored by Justice D Y Chandrachud on behalf of the three Judge Bench of the Supreme Court "exposes every fact of the conspiracy" to generate falsehood as propaganda in the public and political space.

He further said Amit Shah (now BJP president) had no role in Sohrabuddin Case and it was an alleged encounter executed by some central agencies through the state&nbsp;police.&nbsp;

Referring to the move of Congress and six other opposition parties to impeach Chief Justice of India Deepak Misra, Jaitley said: "The Congress Party and its friends have started using impeachment as a political tool".

Stressing that trivialising the use of power of impeachment is a "dangerous event", he said the move is an attempt to "intimidate" a judge and send a "message"&nbsp;to other judges, "that if you don't agree with us, fifty MP's are enough for a revenge action".

Referring to the judgement in Loya death case, Jaitley said never ever so blatantly in the past have national political parties, a few retired judges and some senior lawyers "so closely identified themselves with the generation of falsehood that they almost come out as conspirators".&nbsp;

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Jaitley said Amit Shah (now BJP President) had no role in Sohrabuddin Case and it was an alleged encounter executed by some central agencies through the State Police.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday accused the Congress party of trivialising the power of impeachment and using it as a political tool. In a scathing Facebook post, the senior BJP leader said the 114-page judgement in the Judge Loya death case authored by Justice D Y Chandrachud on behalf of the three Judge Bench of the Supreme Court "exposes every fact of the conspiracy" to generate falsehood as propaganda in the public and political space. He further said Amit Shah (now BJP president) had no role in Sohrabuddin Case and it was an alleged encounter executed by some central agencies through the state police. Referring to the move of Congress and six other opposition parties to impeach Chief Justice of India Deepak Misra, Jaitley said: "The Congress Party and its friends have started using impeachment as a political tool". Stressing that trivialising the use of power of impeachment is a "dangerous event", he said the move is an attempt to "intimidate" a judge and send a "message" to other judges, "that if you don't agree with us, fifty MP's are enough for a revenge action". Referring to the judgement in Loya death case, Jaitley said never ever so blatantly in the past have national political parties, a few retired judges and some senior lawyers "so closely identified themselves with the generation of falsehood that they almost come out as conspirators". ×

Congress using CJI Deepak Misra's impeachment as a 'political tool': Arun Jaitley

Congress President Rahul Gandhi said Tuesday that the Sohrabbudin&nbsp;case &quot;claims yet another judge&quot;.&nbsp;

Gandhi tweeted:&nbsp;

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The Sohrabuddin case claims yet another Judge. 
 
Justice Revati Dere, who challenged the CBI has been removed. 
 
Judge J T Utpat, asked Amit Shah to appear and was removed. 
 
Judge Loya asked tough questions. He died. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HowDidLoyaDie?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HowDidLoyaDie</a>? <a href="https://t.co/iNFLVIEQni">https://t.co/iNFLVIEQni</a>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/968387098641358849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The Sohrabbudin case refers to the killing of Sohrabbudin Sheikh by a Gujarat Police team on November 26, 2005. Gujarat Police claimed at the time that Sheikh was a &quot;dreaded terrorist&quot; on a mission to kill a high-ranking Gujarat politician, presumably Narendra Modi.&nbsp;

The claim was challenged in court by Sohrabbudin&#39;s brother, who alleged the encounter had been fake.&nbsp;

BJP President Amit Shah, who was Gujarat home minister at the time, was named in the FIR. Shah however was later discharged from the case by the Gujarat court.

The case has since been shifted to Maharashtra.&nbsp;

The Bombay High Court however removed Justice Revati Dere from the case on February 24.

News reports quoting lawyers at the time said a change in roster was not unusual but that Dere had already heard most of the arguments in the case. &nbsp;

Gandhi has been attacking the government over the death of Judge Loya for some time now.&nbsp;

On Tuesday,&nbsp;&nbsp;he tweeted: &quot;Judge JT Utpat asked Amit Shah to appear and was removed,&quot; adding, &quot;Judge Loya asked tough questions. He died.&quot;&nbsp;

The death of Judge Loya has raised a number of questions.&nbsp;

An Indian magazine had first reported Loya&#39;s family as saying his death had been <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/justice-loyas-death-had-suspicion-earlier-over-fathers-death-but-now-it-is-over-says-son-29495" target="_blank">suspicious</a>.&nbsp;Other news reports trying to corroborate that first report had agreed with some of the claims made in the story while disagreeing with others.&nbsp;

'Justice Revati Dere, who challenged the CBI has been removed. Judge J T Utpat, asked Amit Shah to appear and was removed. Judge Loya asked tough questions. He died,' the Congress President tweeted

Congress President Rahul Gandhi said Tuesday that the Sohrabbudin case "claims yet another judge". Gandhi tweeted: The Sohrabuddin case claims yet another Judge. Justice Revati Dere, who challenged the CBI has been removed. Judge J T Utpat, asked Amit Shah to appear and was removed. Judge Loya asked tough questions. He died. #HowDidLoyaDie? https://t.co/iNFLVIEQni — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) February 27, 2018 × The Sohrabbudin case refers to the killing of Sohrabbudin Sheikh by a Gujarat Police team on November 26, 2005. Gujarat Police claimed at the time that Sheikh was a "dreaded terrorist" on a mission to kill a high-ranking Gujarat politician, presumably Narendra Modi. The claim was challenged in court by Sohrabbudin's brother, who alleged the encounter had been fake. BJP President Amit Shah, who was Gujarat home minister at the time, was named in the FIR. Shah however was later discharged from the case by the Gujarat court. The case has since been shifted to Maharashtra. The Bombay High Court however removed Justice Revati Dere from the case on February 24. News reports quoting lawyers at the time said a change in roster was not unusual but that Dere had already heard most of the arguments in the case. Gandhi has been attacking the government over the death of Judge Loya for some time now. On Tuesday, he tweeted: "Judge JT Utpat asked Amit Shah to appear and was removed," adding, "Judge Loya asked tough questions. He died." The death of Judge Loya has raised a number of questions. An Indian magazine had first reported Loya's family as saying his death had been suspicious. Other news reports trying to corroborate that first report had agreed with some of the claims made in the story while disagreeing with others.

'Sohrabuddin case claims yet another judge,' says Rahul Gandhi

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