Shah’s court appearance deferred due to hospitalisation

GANDHINAGAR - Gujarat’s former minister of state for home Amit Shah, the prime accused in the Sohrabudin Sheikh staged shoot-out case, did not appear before the court Friday through video-conferencing due to his hospitalisation.

The designated Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) judge A.Y. Dave was informed by the jail authorities that since the former minister was in the government civil hospital, he would not be able to present himself before it even through video-conferencing.

The judge has adjourned the hearing to Sep 15 when Shah will have to appear. Shah has to appear before the court every 14 days for renewal of his judicial custody pending a decision on his bail plea. The court had earlier extended his judicial custody till Sep 3, when the video-conferencing was to take place.

Shah had applied through jail seeking the court’s permission to appear before it through video-conferencing due to security concerns. The court had initially rejected his plea in “the interest of justice”, but extended his judicial custody.

Subsequently, it was brought to the court’s notice that the video-conferencing facility was available at the court premises and Shah was granted permission to appear through this means.

Shah was sent to judicial custody till Aug 21 and had to appear before the court on that date. But mentioning “security reasons” in his plea, Shah sought to appear from jail. Judge A.Y. Dave accepted the submissions and allowed him to appear through video-conferencing on Sep 3.

Shah was arrested by the CBI July 25 in the Sohrabuddin killing case and faces charges of murder, distorting evidence and extortion, among others. Sohrabuddin was killed Nov 26, 2005, by Gujarat Police near Ahmedabad in a staged shoot-out.