Javadekar denies allegations in fake encounter case, says evidence 'flimsy'

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday denied allegations levelled against him in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), filed by a journalist, which accuses him of being caught on camera discussing how to protect former Gujarat Home Minister Amit Shah in connection with the Tulsiram Prajapati fake encounter case of 2006, and added that the evidence produced was doctored.

"Congress has charged and demanded a CBI probe based on an unauthenticated and a probably doctored CD. It is the bankruptcy of the Congress to depend on such flimsy evidences. We completely deny having anything to do with obstructing the judicial process," Javadekar said.

Earlier today, Congress leader Ajay Maken demanded Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's resignation in connection with the Tulsiram Prajapati fake encounter case to ensure objectivity in the judicial process.

On Monday, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Supreme Court, by freelance journalist Pushp Kumar Sharma, against BJP Member of Parliament Prakash Javadekar and Bhupendra Yadav, who can allegedly be heard discussing how to get a blank document signed by the mother of Tulsiram Prajapati.

Additionally, in the evidence submitted by the journalist, the BJP leaders have reportedly stated that the "vakalatnama" or signed affidavit, could be used to appoint a lawyer of their choice to represent Tulsiram's family, which will allow them to control the course of investigation in the case.

Tulsiram Prajapati, a Dalit, was killed by the Gujarat police in a fake encounter in 2006. Amit Shah, former Gujarat Home Minister, has been charged with murder in the case.

Shah, who is believed to be a close aide of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, is also accused of murder in the fake encounter that killed Sohrabuddin Sheikh.