Fake encounters during 2002-06 in Gujarat: SC to hear pleas seeking probe after next week
Sep 13, 2023
New Delhi [India], September 13 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that it will hear after next week pleas seeking a probe into the alleged fake encounter cases in Gujarat from 2002 to 2006, whose probe was monitored by a former top court judge Justice HS Bedi.
A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia adjourned the matter after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the State, said a letter seeking adjournment has been circulated by the petitioners.
Mehta said senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi representing petitioners is not available due to health reasons.
The pleas were filed in 2007 by senior journalist BG Verghese and lyricist Javed Akhtar seeking a probe into the alleged fake encounters. Verghese passed away in 2014.
The top court had set up a monitoring committee under former Supreme Court judge HS Bedi for probing 17 alleged fake encounter cases from 2002 to 2006.
The committee in 2019 had submitted a report to the apex court in a sealed cover where it recommended the prosecution of police officials in three out of the 17 cases it probed.
On November 9, 2022, the apex court observed that the limited contours which have now to be examined involved whether any directions were required to be issued pursuant to the report of the Justice Bedi committee.
Ultimately the issue now revolves around three encounters, it said.
