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

The Bombay High Court will resume in June the hearing on revision petitions filed by Rubabuddin Sheikh and the CBI, challenging the discharge of some senior police officers in the alleged fake encounter of his brother and gangster Sohrabuddin Shaikh.

Three pleas filed by Rubabuddin Sheikh and another two petitions filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) were left part heard when the assignments of some judges in the high court were changed suddenly in February this year.

However, a single bench of Justice Nitin Sambre took up the pleas today and said that a schedule to conclude the hearing on the revision petitions will be drawn up on June 20 this year.

Justice Sambre also refused to grant any urgent hearing to Rajkumar Pandian, former IPS officer and one of the discharged accused in the case, on his request seeking permission to travel to Canada next month for a training.

At the time of change of assignments in February, a single bench presided by Justice Revati Mohite-Dere had been conducting hearings on the revision applications on a day-to-day basis.

The bench had completed the hearings on three out of the five pleas.While the change had led to much speculation, the registrar of the Bombay High Court had termed it as a “routine” exercise.

In March this year, Rubabuddin Sheikh’s lawyer, advocate Gautam Tiwari, mentioned it before the new bench presided by Justice Sambre and the pleas were fixed for hearing today.

Since February 9 this year, Justice Mohite-Dere had been conducting day-to-day hearings on the revision pleas filed by Sohrabuddin Sheikh’s brother, challenging the discharge of IPS officers D G Vanzara, Dinesh M N, and Rajkumar Pandian. The judge was also hearing the two revision applications filed by the CBI against the discharge of former Gujarat IPS officer N K Amin and Rajasthan police constable Dalpat Singh Rathod.

Justice Mohite-Dere had already heard a major chunk of arguments by all parties on four out of the five revision applications when on the evening of February 24, the assignments of the judges, including hers, were changed.

Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, who is representing Vanzara, Amin, Pandian, and Dinesh M N, was to complete his arguments in favour of Pandian on the next day and the bench was to begin hearing arguments on the plea challenging Vanzara’s discharge after that.

Sohrabuddin Sheikh and his wife Kausar Bi were allegedly abducted and killed by a team of Gujarat and Rajasthan police officers in December 2005.

Their aide, Tulsiram Prajapati, was allegedly”killed” by some Rajasthan police officers a year later.A CBI probe termed both cases as that of fake encounters and charged 38 people as accused.Subsequently, a special CBI court in the city discharged 14 people, including the IPS officers and BJP president Amit Shah, in the case.

Sohrabuddin Sheikh and his wife Kausar Bi were allegedly abducted and killed by a team of Gujarat and Rajasthan police officers in December 2005.

The Bombay High Court will resume in June the hearing on revision petitions filed by Rubabuddin Sheikh and the CBI, challenging the discharge of some senior police officers in the alleged fake encounter of his brother and gangster Sohrabuddin Shaikh. Three pleas filed by Rubabuddin Sheikh and another two petitions filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) were left part heard when the assignments of some judges in the high court were changed suddenly in February this year. However, a single bench of Justice Nitin Sambre took up the pleas today and said that a schedule to conclude the hearing on the revision petitions will be drawn up on June 20 this year. Justice Sambre also refused to grant any urgent hearing to Rajkumar Pandian, former IPS officer and one of the discharged accused in the case, on his request seeking permission to travel to Canada next month for a training. At the time of change of assignments in February, a single bench presided by Justice Revati Mohite-Dere had been conducting hearings on the revision applications on a day-to-day basis. The bench had completed the hearings on three out of the five pleas.While the change had led to much speculation, the registrar of the Bombay High Court had termed it as a “routine” exercise. In March this year, Rubabuddin Sheikh’s lawyer, advocate Gautam Tiwari, mentioned it before the new bench presided by Justice Sambre and the pleas were fixed for hearing today. Since February 9 this year, Justice Mohite-Dere had been conducting day-to-day hearings on the revision pleas filed by Sohrabuddin Sheikh’s brother, challenging the discharge of IPS officers D G Vanzara, Dinesh M N, and Rajkumar Pandian. The judge was also hearing the two revision applications filed by the CBI against the discharge of former Gujarat IPS officer N K Amin and Rajasthan police constable Dalpat Singh Rathod. Justice Mohite-Dere had already heard a major chunk of arguments by all parties on four out of the five revision applications when on the evening of February 24, the assignments of the judges, including hers, were changed. Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, who is representing Vanzara, Amin, Pandian, and Dinesh M N, was to complete his arguments in favour of Pandian on the next day and the bench was to begin hearing arguments on the plea challenging Vanzara’s discharge after that. Sohrabuddin Sheikh and his wife Kausar Bi were allegedly abducted and killed by a team of Gujarat and Rajasthan police officers in December 2005. Their aide, Tulsiram Prajapati, was allegedly”killed” by some Rajasthan police officers a year later.A CBI probe termed both cases as that of fake encounters and charged 38 people as accused.Subsequently, a special CBI court in the city discharged 14 people, including the IPS officers and BJP president Amit Shah, in the case.

Bombay High Court to resume hearing on pleas of Sohrabuddin’s brother, CBI in June

The Supreme Court is likely to pronounce its verdict on Thursday on a batch of pleas seeking an independent probe into the alleged mysterious death of special CBI judge BH Loya, who was hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case.

Loya had allegedly died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014 when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud had on March 16 reserved the judgment on the pleas.

The Maharashtra government had argued in the apex court that all pleas seeking an independent probe into Loya's death were motivated and aimed at targeting "one individual" in the guise of upholding the rule of law.

It had come down heavily on alleged accusations, bullying and browbeating of judges in the top court by some activist lawyers in the Loya case and said that the judiciary and judicial officers need to be saved from such averments.

Meanwhile, those seeking an independent probe into the matter had referred to the sequence of events to highlight that a fair investigation was needed to rule out any foul play in the death.

The issue of Loya's death had come under spotlight in November last year after media reports quoting his sister had fuelled suspicion about the circumstances surrounding it and its link to the Sohrabuddin case. But Loya's son had on January 14 said in Mumbai that his father had died of natural causes.&nbsp

In the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, BJP president Amit Shah along with Rajasthan home minister Gulabchand Kataria, Rajasthan-based businessman Vimal Patni, former Gujarat police chief P C Pande, additional director general of police Geeta Johri and Gujarat police officers Abhay Chudasama and N K Amin have already been discharged.

Several accused, including police personnel, are currently facing trial for their involvement in the alleged fake encounter of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife Kausar Bi and their associate Tulsiram Prajapati in Gujarat in November 2005. The case was later transferred to CBI and the trial shifted to Mumbai.

A batch of pleas, including those filed by Congress leader Tehseen Poonawala and Maharashtra-based B S Lone, was filed in the top court seeking an independent probe into Loya's death in 2014.

Four senior-most apex court judges -- Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph -- at their January 12 press conference had questioned the manner in which sensitive cases were being allocated and Loya's case was one of them.

Loya, who had been hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, had died in mysterious circumstances in December 2014

The Supreme Court is likely to pronounce its verdict on Thursday on a batch of pleas seeking an independent probe into the alleged mysterious death of special CBI judge BH Loya, who was hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. Loya had allegedly died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014 when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud had on March 16 reserved the judgment on the pleas. The Maharashtra government had argued in the apex court that all pleas seeking an independent probe into Loya's death were motivated and aimed at targeting "one individual" in the guise of upholding the rule of law. It had come down heavily on alleged accusations, bullying and browbeating of judges in the top court by some activist lawyers in the Loya case and said that the judiciary and judicial officers need to be saved from such averments. Meanwhile, those seeking an independent probe into the matter had referred to the sequence of events to highlight that a fair investigation was needed to rule out any foul play in the death. The issue of Loya's death had come under spotlight in November last year after media reports quoting his sister had fuelled suspicion about the circumstances surrounding it and its link to the Sohrabuddin case. But Loya's son had on January 14 said in Mumbai that his father had died of natural causes. In the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, BJP president Amit Shah along with Rajasthan home minister Gulabchand Kataria, Rajasthan-based businessman Vimal Patni, former Gujarat police chief P C Pande, additional director general of police Geeta Johri and Gujarat police officers Abhay Chudasama and N K Amin have already been discharged. Several accused, including police personnel, are currently facing trial for their involvement in the alleged fake encounter of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife Kausar Bi and their associate Tulsiram Prajapati in Gujarat in November 2005. The case was later transferred to CBI and the trial shifted to Mumbai. A batch of pleas, including those filed by Congress leader Tehseen Poonawala and Maharashtra-based B S Lone, was filed in the top court seeking an independent probe into Loya's death in 2014. Four senior-most apex court judges -- Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph -- at their January 12 press conference had questioned the manner in which sensitive cases were being allocated and Loya's case was one of them.

Judge Loya death case: SC likely to decide today on independent probe

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

The Congress Party on Monday said that it will raise special CBI Justice Loya&#39;s death case in the upcoming budget session of the parliament.&nbsp;

Judge Loya, who, before his death, was presiding over the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. BJP president Amit Shah was the prime accused in the case. Shah was subsequently discharged by the judge who succeeded Loya.

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Congress to raise Judge Loya death case in upcoming budget session of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Parliament?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Parliament</a> <a href="https://t.co/nA9dZkfOpI">pic.twitter.com/nA9dZkfOpI</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/955418848378761217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, Supreme Court Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra started hearing a batch of PILs seeking an investigation into the suspicious death of Loya.&nbsp;

During the hearing, the SC transferred to itself two petitions from Bombay High Court regarding the case on Monday. The court also restrained all high courts from entertaining any petition relating to the judge&#39;s death. &nbsp;

The court also asked lawyers not to cast aspersions on BJP President Amit Shah.&nbsp;

&quot;As of today, it was a natural death. Do not cast aspersions,&quot; the court said.

The court termed as &quot;serious&quot; the issues raised in the pleas; saying &quot;we must look into all documents with the utmost seriousness&quot;.&nbsp;

Judge Loya, who, before he died, was presiding over the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case.

The Congress Party on Monday said that it will raise special CBI Justice Loya's death case in the upcoming budget session of the parliament. Judge Loya, who, before his death, was presiding over the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. BJP president Amit Shah was the prime accused in the case. Shah was subsequently discharged by the judge who succeeded Loya. Congress to raise Judge Loya death case in upcoming budget session of #Parliament pic.twitter.com/nA9dZkfOpI — ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2018 × Meanwhile, Supreme Court Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra started hearing a batch of PILs seeking an investigation into the suspicious death of Loya. During the hearing, the SC transferred to itself two petitions from Bombay High Court regarding the case on Monday. The court also restrained all high courts from entertaining any petition relating to the judge's death. The court also asked lawyers not to cast aspersions on BJP President Amit Shah. "As of today, it was a natural death. Do not cast aspersions," the court said. The court termed as "serious" the issues raised in the pleas; saying "we must look into all documents with the utmost seriousness".

Congress to raise Judge Loya death case in upcoming budget session of Parliament