Narendra Modi slams Centre over Sohrabuddin case

AHMEDABAD - Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday lashed out at the Centre, saying that moves to transfer the Sohrabuddin Sheikh case out of Gujarat was an insult to the state’s judicial system.

Addressing a rally here Modi said: “Transferring the case out of Gujarat was an insult to the judicial system, the courts, the judges and the lawyers of the state.”

“I just want to know why is Gujarat being treated like it is not a part of the country?, he asked.

“Gujarat’s peace, brotherhood, development and progress are not liked by some people. They are working towards maligning it,” he alleged.

Citing the example of the Best Bakery case, in which the trial was held in a Mumbai court, Modi said even though the case was transferred to Mumbai, the investigation was done by Gujarat Police.

Earlier, Modi had said the Congress would have to field CBI officers in the state civic polls as the party has conceded defeat to the BJP.

“Whatever has happened last week proves that Congress has conceded defeat ahead of in Gujarat civic polls. They won’t field their candidates. They will field CBI officers. No political game using CBI will bring success in Gujarat,” he added.

On Friday, the CBI submitted its status report on the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case to the Supreme Court.

According to television reports, CBI in its status report has asked for the case to be shifted out of Gujarat as it feels that investigation cannot be carried out in an impartial manner in the State.

The CBI is also learnt to have said that it will investigate the fake encounter of Tulsiram Prajapati, the man who allegedly witnessed the killing of Sohrabuddin.

The Supreme Court on January 12 has handed over the investigation of the case to the CBI asking it to place before it the report on the progress of the probe within six months by July 31.

Sohrabuddin and his wife Kausar Bi were killed in an alleged fake encounter in 2005. (ANI)