In the case of the murder of prominent RTI activist Amit Jethwa, the Gujarat High Court held that the trial ongoing in the CBI court is a managed trial by the key accused who happens to be a powerful political leader. The court sets aside the ongoing trial in the CBI court, calling it “miscarriage of justice” as the trial was managed by the key accused Solanki, a powerful political leader in the state.
Jethwa was shot dead outside the Gujarat High Court on July 20, 2010, allegedly at the behest of Dinu Solanki for exposing illegal mining activities through RTI applications. Before his death, Jethwa was campaigning against alleged illegal mining in the Gir Sanctuary areas in Saurashtra region, which is allegedly backed by some politicians. Amit had filed a PIL in the high court against illegal mining in Gir forest region, the habitat of Asiatic lions. Charges of murder and criminal conspiracy were framed against Solanki and six others in May 2016.
In April 2017, Gujarat High Court caused another five accused person respondents to a petition filed by Bhikhabhai Jethwa, father of Amit Jethwa. In Sept 2012, the Gujarat High Court, severely criticised investigations by the Gujarat police who had “given a clean chit” to Solanki, despite arresting his nephew; the court ordered the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) to take up the case. However, in November 2013, CBI arrested BJP MP Dinu Solanki in connection with having ordered the murder.
