Bombay High Court Upholds Acquittal in 2005 Fake Encounter Case

The Bombay High Court on Thursday affirmed the acquittal of 22 individuals accused in the 2005 alleged fake encounter case involving gangster Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife Kausar Bi, and aide Tulsiram Prajapati.

The bench, composed of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad, dismissed the appeals by Shaikh's brothers. The 2018 ruling of a special court, which acquitted all accused due to a lack of evidence, was thus upheld.

Among those acquitted were 21 junior officers from Gujarat and Rajasthan police, accused of killing the trio in staged encounters. The high court noted the prosecution's failure to establish a prima facie case or indicate any conspiracy involving the accused.

(With inputs from agencies.)