Gujarat, September 21: The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday granted anticipatory bail to two absconders in Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case.
Yashpal Chudasama and Ajay Patel, the close aides of former state minister Amit Shah, were declared absconding accused after they failed to appear before the CBI despite several warrants.
The duo office bearers of Ahmedabad District Cooperative (ADC) bank have been absconding after their names appeared in the charge sheet filed by the CBI in the case.
Justice R.H. Shukla granted anticipatory bail to the two, who will now have to present themselves before the CBI court.
Their counsel J.M. Panchal had contended in the High Court that Mr. Chudasama and Mr. Patel were not involved in the fake encounter which took place in November 2005, and their names cropped up only after CBI took over the probe.
Mr. Panchal had further argued that his clients could be booked for attempt to destroy evidence which was a bailable offence.
He had submitted that his clients were not remotely connected with the fake encounter conspiracy, extortion and murder of witnesses as mentioned in the CBI chargesheet.
—Agencies