Sohrabuddin Shaikh’s encounter case: On Supreme Court’s call to examine the acquittals
The Supreme Court of India has agreed to hear an appeal regarding the acquittal of 22 individuals involved in the 2005 fake-encounter deaths of Sohrabuddin Shaikh and others. The court is specifically examining the high number of witnesses who turned hostile during the original trial.
Why it matters
This case highlights ongoing concerns regarding judicial integrity, witness protection, and the intersection of law enforcement and politics in India.
The story so far: The Supreme Court has decided to hear an appeal challenging the acquittal of 22 individuals, 21 of whom are police officials from Gujarat, Rajasthan, and undivided Andhra Pradesh, and one is a civilian. They are accused in the 2005 alleged fake-encounter deaths of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife Kausar Bi, and associate Tulsiram Prajapati.
A three-judge Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, issued formal notices on a special leave petition filed by Rubabuddin Shaikh, brother of Shaikh, against a judgment of acquittal pronounced by a Bombay High Court Division Bench headed by its then Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar (presently a Supreme Court judge) and Justice Gautam A. Ankhad on May 7, 2026.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in