Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter | What are you doing to ensure witnesses testify properly, HC asks CBI
On a day two more witnesses in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case turned hostile, the Bombay High Court on Monday sought to know from the CBI the steps it was taking to ensure that the witnesses were able to testify “fearlessly”.
The HC posed the question to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after noting that several of the witnesses in the case examined by a special court here had turned hostile, and maintained that the premier investigative agency can’t be a “silent spectator”.
A single bench, presided by Justice Revati Mohite-Dere, said it was the probe agency’s duty to extend protection to its witnesses to ensure they faced no fear or coercion while deposing before the special court.
“Is it not the CBI’s responsibility to ensure that its witnesses are protected so that they can depose against the accused fearlessly?
“Considering that several witnesses have turned hostile before the special CBI court, are you providing any protection to them? Your responsibility does not end simply at filing the charge sheet. It is your duty to protect your witnesses,” Justice Mohite-Dere said.
The observations came while the court was hearing an appeal filed by the CBI challenging the discharge of former Gujarat IPS officer N …read more
