The Gujarat High Court on Monday acquitted former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dinu Solanki and six others in the murder of environmentalist Amit Jethwa [Dinubhai Bogabhai Solanki and others v. State of Gujarat and Others]A Bench of Justices AS Supehia and Vimal K Vyas pronounced the judgment today."Satyamev Jayate. Truth must triumph. The investigation right from the beginning appears to be a clear eyewash," the Court said while acquitting the appellants (including Solanki).In its judgment, the Court criticised the manner in which the case was handled by the police as well as the trial court.All efforts were made to ensure that the truth stayed buried, the High Court remarked."Considering the timing of the arrival of the police officials to the scene of incident, it is appalling and equally astounding to see that the assailants were not apprehended and they escaped. This speaks volumes of the quick response and rapidness to nab the assailants. All efforts are made to ensure that the truth is buried forever. The perpetrators have succeeded in doing so ... We reiterate that the entire investigation from the very start seems to be prejudiced. Prosecution has failed to secure the confidence of the witnesses. Trial Court on a preconceived notion hasn't analysed the evidence properly. Trial Court was duty bound to apply the law as written but it has failed to do so and has applied the same as per its instincts. Accordingly, we set aside the Trial Court judgment of July 11, 2019 which convicted the present appellants. We acquit the present appellants," the Court said.Amit Jethwa was known for having pursued several queries under the Right to Information Act (RTI Act) and for filing cases on matters concerning illegal mining.He was shot dead by two assailants on a motorbike in July 2010 outside the gates of the Gujarat High Court.Notably, around a month before his murder, he had filed a petition before the High Court regarding allegations of illegal mining around Gir forest.In this regard, it had been reported that Jethwa also produced documents to show that Solanki (then a Member of Parliament) was involved in the illegal mining activities.The High Court eventually ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2012. Solanki and his nephew Shiva were among those convicted to life imprisonment in this murder case by a special court CBI in 2019.This verdict has now been overturned by the High Court, which opined that the trial court had proceeded on pre-determined notions of guilt."Even the Trial Court has conducted the trial proceedings with the pre-determined notion of conviction," the Court said.Judgment copy is awaited.
TAGS: Gujarat High Court Dinu Solanki BJP leader Amit Jethwa murder case acquittal trial court CBI investigation
