Notices to Gujarat BJP leaders in Sohrabuddin case

GANDHINAGAR - The brother of Sohrabudin Sheikh, who was allegedly killed by the Gujarat police in a staged gunfight, Saturday served notices to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders for contempt of court.

Rajesh P. Mankad, the Ahmedabad-based lawyer for Rubabuddin who lives in Madhya Pradesh, said that the pronouncements by the BJP leaders May 2 in Ahmedabad were a clear contempt of the Supreme Court and its orders and pronouncements in the case of Rubabuddin Sheikh versus the state of Gujarat.

“Such pronouncements constitute interference in the process of law and therefore this notice,” the notice, dated Friday, and dispatched by registered post to BJP state unit chief Ramesh Fardu, former state chief Purshottam Rupala, party general secretary Vijay Rupani besides central BJP leaders.

The notice has sought their response within seven days.

It cites the fact that the apex court had clearly ruled that the investigation into the case by the Gujarat police was not proper, even under its directions, and therefore was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

“The Supreme Court has also noted in its order that the investigations into the death of Tulsiram Prajapati, an associate of Sohrabuddin, seems to be an attempt to eliminate an eye-witness through a suspect killing.”

“The BJP rules in Gujarat and its government has represented before the apex court in the case. Despite being aware of the matter, you have cast aspersions on the CBI and termed it as a Congress party agent, termed Sohrabuddin a terrorist and threatened a public agitation,” the notice said, adding this “amounts to a clear contempt of the apex court order, interference in the administration of justice, process of law and an attempt to mislead the people of the state to garner political benefit.”

–Indo-Asian News Service

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