By IANS
New Delhi : The Supreme Court Monday deferred till Wednesday its hearing on two pleas seeking probe into Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s role in the extra-judicial killing of Muslim youth Sohrabuddin Sheikh.
A bench of Justice Tarun Chatterjee said it would take up the matter Wednesday as its first item. The bench deferred the hearing of the case without issuing any notice.
In a brief hearing, Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam, who is assisting the court as amicus curiae, submitted to the bench the English translation of the Modi’s controversial Dec 4 speech delivered in Gujarati at Mangrol in south Gujarat, in which he had allegedly justified the killing.
Following a plea from Sheikh’s brother, the apex court earlier this year ordered probe into the killing and the Gujarat government admitted in an affidavit that the police had erred in killing him.
Subramanian also asserted before the bench that Modi’s speech prima facie interfered with the course of justice.
Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for the victim’s brother Rubabuddin Sheikh, asserted that it was a gross contempt of court.
Senior advocate Arun Jaitley, appearing for his party colleague Modi, opposed their argument and urged the court to take up the matter when tempers cool down.
After Modi made the controversial speech, allegedly saying that he was right in getting eliminated people like Sohrabuddin who had hoarded arms and ammunition for terrorist activities in the state, Rubabuddin and Bollywood lyricist Javed Akhtar moved the court, seeking a probe against Modi.
The two petitioners have also sought the transfer of the ongoing trial against the accused police officers in the state.
Replying to a notice from the Election Commission, Modi said he was misquoted in some media reports.