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Shah defends not filing appeal
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday defended the decision not to file an appeal against the acquittals in the 2007 Samjhauta Express blast case, stating that the chargesheets filed under the UPA regime did not have any substantial proof. Replying to a debate in the Rajya Sabha on a Bill extending more powers to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Mr. Shah alleged that the case had been instituted with a political motive. The Bill was subsequently passed by the House. It was cleared by the Lok Sabha on Monday. Mr. Shah said conviction in any criminal case depended on the chargesheet, based on which law officers argued in court. In the Samjhauta case, the first chargesheet was filed on August 9, 2012, and the second on June 12, 2013, when the UPA was in power. The decision not to file an appeal against the acquittals was taken on the basis of the law officer’s opinion, he said. Mr. Shah, responding to the apprehensions, assured the House that the Modi government would never allow misuse of the NIA law. The amendment extends powers to the agency to investigate terror-related incidents involving Indian nationals and assets abroad. It also extends the NIA’s jurisdiction to human trafficking, counterfeit currency, manufacture or sale of prohibited arms, cyberterrorism, and offences under the Explosive Substances Act. Earlier, when Mr. Shah was about to speak, Left parties’ members demanded that the Bill be sent to a Select Committee. However, Deputy Chairman Harivansh rejected it, saying there was no prior proposal. They then boycotted the Home Minister’s speech.Appeal not filed against acquittals on the basis of law officer’s opinion
Source : https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/samjhauta-case-lacked-proof/article28533479.ece
