SC grants bail to ex-IPS officer in Sohrabuddin encounter case

The Supreme Court today granted bail to suspended Gujarat cadre IPS officer Rajkumar Pandian, who has been in jail for the last seven years, in the alleged fake encounter killings of Sohrabuddin Sheikh and his wife Kauserbi.
A bench of Chief Justice P Sathasivam, justices Ranjan Gogoi and N V Ramana also granted the relief to B R Chaubey, who was working as sub Inspector of Police in Anti Terrorist Squad, Ahmedabad, at the time of the encounter.
"We are satisfied that both the appellants have made out a case for bail on executing a bond with two solvent sureties, each in a sum of Rs one lakh to the satisfaction of the Special CBI Judge," the bench said.

The apex court granted bail to them taking into consideration the fact that the they have been in custody for such a long period and charges have not yet been framed in the case.
"In the light of the details, allegations in the charge sheet filed before the court, many of the co-accused were granted bail by the trial court/High court and this court and of the fact that both the appellants are in custody for nearly seven years pending trial and also in view of the fact that it would not be possible for the special court to conclude the trial over a reasonable period as claimed by the ASG, we are inclined to consider their claim for bail," the court held.

The bench also directed the accused not to leave Mumbai where the trial is going on without permission of the concerned authority. It also ordered them to hand over their passports if they have not done so far.
"On such release, both of them have to stay at Mumbai and report at 11 am on alternate working days before the Special Judge, CBI Mumbai," the bench said.