SC asks Maharashtra government to share Judge Loya documents with petitioners seeking probe

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Maharashtra government to share all the documents relating to the death of Special CBI Judge B.H. Loya with the petitioners seeking independent probe and adjourned the matter for seven days.

"This is a matter, they must get everything. There should not be any confidentiality," said the bench of Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Mohan M. Shantanagoudar asking senior counsel Harish Salve to share the documents with the petitioners.

Social activists T. Poonawala and Mumbai journalist Bandhuraj Sambhaji Lone have moved the top court seeking independent probe into the death of Judge Loya.

As Salve appearing for Maharashtra government told the court to have a look at the documents that were in a sealed cover, Justice Mishra said "Exchange the copy with them (petitioners). And we adjourn the matter for seven days."

As Salve said that he had himself not seen the documents sent by Maharashtra government, the bench told him to go through the documents and if he finds some are sensitive, then he can hold them back.

Justice Mishra said, "Unless there is something, there should not be any confidentiality. Normally there should not be any objection in sharing the documents."

Salve said that he has a spare copy which he can share with senior counsel Pallav Sisodia - appearing for the petitioner - but he should keep it to himself.

The death of Judge Loya has raised a storm as presiding over the special CBI court he held the trial in the Sohrabuddin Shaikh fake encounter case in which BJP president Amit Shah is one of the accused. Shah was later discharged in the case.

--IANS

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