CBI lawyer denies meeting Amit Shah at Ravi Bhawan, Nagpur in March, 2015

National Herald published an article ‘When Amit Shah, CBI lawyer and HC judge all stayed at Ravi Bhawan, Nagpur’ on our website on April 6, 2018 at 6.59 am.

Exactly 36 hours prior to publishing, this correspondent had sent the following questions to ASG Anil C Singh, at 6.59 pm on April 4.

National Herald’s questions to CBI lawyer ASG Anil C Singh

• On what date did you begin representing the CBI in the trial court in the Sohrabuddin alleged fake encounter case?
• National Herald has accessed the register of Ravi Bhawan Guest House in Nagpur, which shows cottage 8 was booked in your name and that you arrived on March 13, 2015 and checked out on March 14, 2015. Can you please confirm your visit on these dates?
• Were you aware that BJP President Amit Shah, who had been discharged in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh alleged fake encounter case in December 2014—and Judge NW Sambre, who is presently hearing revision petitions against discharge of some accused in the Sohrabuddin alleged fake encounter case matter in Bombay High Court, were also visiting Nagpur and staying at Ravi Bhawan guest house on March 13-14, 2015?
• Did you meet with Amit Shah in Nagpur during your stay there?
• Did you meet with Judge Sambre in Nagpur during your stay there?

This correspondent had requested Anil Singh to reply by April 5 evening. We had received no reply by the time of publishing, 36 hours later.

CBI lawyer ASG Anil C Singh’s response

On April 8, at 3.10 pm, this correspondent received the following reply from Anil C Singh, which we are reproducing below, as promised:

I was really shocked when I was informed about the news item published in your news paper dated 6th April, 2018, which is full of innuendoes. Somebody did call me on my cellphone during Court working hours but as a result of poor connectivity the sound was not clear.

In the context of aforesaid article, I wish to place the following facts on record:-

a. I was elected as a member of Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa in the election held in the year 2010. In the year 2012, I was unanimously elected as a Chairman of the said Bar Council.

b. In the year 2015, the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa had organized a State level Conference in which many Hon’ble Judges of Supreme Court, High Court of Bombay and from the District Judiciary and Senior Advocates participated.

c. Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.A. Bobde, Hon’ble Judge, Supreme Court of India was the Chief Guest of the inaugural function and Hon’ble Mr. Justice U.U. Lalit, Hon’ble Judge, Supreme Court of India presided over the inaugural function.

d. I was one of the Guests of Honour in the said inaugural function which took place on 14th March, 2015 at Nagpur. The conference has two days’ Sessions in Nagpur on 14th and 15th March, 2015.

e. Being an elected member of the Bar Council and holding an office of the Addl. Solicitor General and as one of the Guests of Honour, I visited Nagpur to attend the said function and stayed at Ravi Bhavan. Whenever I visit Nagpur, I always stay at Ravi Bhavan.

f. In the first working session on 15th March, 2015, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Nitin Sambre, Hon’ble Judge, High Court of Bombay was the Co-Chairman of the said Session. Both Hon’ble Mr. Justice U.U. Lalit and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Nitin Sambre also would have, therefore, stayed at Ravi Bhavan as all judges of Hon’ble Supreme Court as well as High Court stay at Ravi Bhavan.

I am enclosing herewith the copy of brocher/invitation card of the said conference giving details of the programs and names of the participants which includes Hon’be Mr. Justice U.U. Lalit, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Nitin Sambre and myself.

During my stay at Nagpur in Ravi Bhavan, on the dates given by you or otherwise I did not even know that one of the cottages was occupied by Shri. Amit Shah nor did I happen to meet him.

Anil Singh,

Additional Solicitor General of India.

[We are also reproducing here copies of an invitation card to the event mentioned in Anil Singh’s email, which he emailed to us along with his reply.]

We note that Anil Singh, in his reply, has not clarified exactly when he began representing the CBI in the Sohrabuddin alleged fake encounter case.

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When Amit Shah, CBI lawyer and HC judge all stayed at Ravi Bhawan, Nagpur