Sohrabuddin Shaikh. | Photo credit: The Hindu
The Bombay High Court on Thursday (May 7, 2026) dismissed the appeals filed by the family members of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, his wife Kausar Bi and associate Tulsiram Prajapati. The appeal challenged the verdict of a special court that acquitted 22 Gujarat policemen in the encounter case.
Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad pronounced the order in open court. A detailed copy of the order is pending.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had told the Bench in November last year that it had “accepted” the verdict of the special court acquitting all 22 police officers.
Sohrabuddin was killed in an encounter in November 2005 along with his wife. Police from Gujarat and Rajasthan have reportedly taken the couple into custody. His companion Tulsiram Prajapati was killed a year later.
While investigating the three deaths, the CBI arrested several police officers from Gujarat and Rajasthan. The agency also arrested BJP leader and current Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the case. Mr Shah was released from the case in December 2014.
Of the 38 accused in the case, 16, including Mr Shah, have been acquitted. The only accused to face trial were police inspectors and constables from Gujarat and Rajasthan police.
In the case, 92 prosecution witnesses out of a total of 210 turned against the prosecution. Some witnesses, including Tulsiram Prajapati’s mother and brother Sohrabuddin, chose not to testify in court. They said they have no confidence in the court and prosecution as several accused have been acquitted.
The appeal was filed by Sohrabuddin’s brothers Rubabuddin and Nayabuddin. Both challenged the special court’s order that acquitted the police officers. The bench dismissed the appeal on Thursday (May 7, 2026).
Published – May 7, 2026 12:59 PM IST
