The Supreme Court on December 12 issued a contempt notice to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his controversial speech regarding the fake encounter killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh. A bench consisting of Justices Tarun Chatterjee and Dalveer Bhandari rejected the Gujarat government’s submission that it was a political speech.
Senior Counsel Dushyant Dave, appearing for Sohrabuddin’s brother Rubabuddin Sheikh, said Chief Minister’s statement justifying the fake encounter was a gross contempt of court and insult to humanity. He further said that Mr. Modi’s speech is posing a direct challenge to the judicial system. Politicians should not go beyond the limits of power.
Senior counsel Mukul Rohtagi and Ranjit Kumar, appearing for Gujarat, opposed the petitioner’s submissions. They requested that the matter be taken in January after the completion of Assembly polls in Gujarat. The petition filed by noted lyricist Javed Akhtar for registering a case against Modi would also be taken up in January.