On November 22, 2005, gangster Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife Kausar Bi, and his associate Tulsiram Prajapati were intercepted by a police team from a bus while they were returning to Sangli. This incident marked the beginning of a controversial case that would later be dubbed as a 'fake encounter' by the Bombay High Court and various human rights organizations.
Early Events and Allegations
The police claimed that Sohrabuddin was a notorious criminal with links to terrorist activities. However, family members and activists alleged that the encounter was staged. Sohrabuddin and his wife were taken into custody, and later both were killed in separate encounters. Tulsiram Prajapati was also killed in a similar encounter in 2006.
Investigation and Court Proceedings
The case gained national attention when the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) intervened. The Supreme Court ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). In 2018, a special CBI court acquitted all 22 accused, including police officers, citing lack of evidence. However, the Bombay High Court later reversed this decision, terming the encounters as fake and ordering a retrial.
- 2005: Sohrabuddin, Kausar Bi, and Tulsiram Prajapati are intercepted and killed in separate encounters.
- 2007: CBI takes over the investigation.
- 2018: Special court acquits all accused.
- 2026: Bombay High Court declares encounters fake, orders retrial.
The case remains a significant example of alleged extrajudicial killings in India, with ongoing debates about police accountability and human rights.
