The bail applications moved by two officers of the Rajasthan police, and one of the Gujarat police, all accused in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, were rejected by a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) judge on Thursday evening.
Himanshusinh Rajavat and Shamsinh Charan, both sub inspectors with the Rajasthan police, and Narsinh Dabhi, inspector with the Gujarat police, had moved bail pleas before the court.
They said that since the CBI had not filed a charge sheet within the stipulated time of 90 days, they should be allowed out on bail.
However, AY Dave, the special CBI judge, rejected the application on the grounds that the CBI is investigating the case further as per section 173 (8) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), and not making investigations afresh. Therefore, the court said, the central agency is not in obligation to file the charge sheet, and it has to submit the report before the apex court.
It is pertinent to note here that earlier this year, the apex court had entrusted the investigation of the highly sensational Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case to the CBI, after withdrawing the state CID (Crime) from the same. The central agency has to file a report within six months, regarding lacunae left by the state CID in the investigation.
