BJP President Amit Shah and many more senior police officers were accused. But the lower court has acquitted Amit Shah and almost all other police officers. Dere was hearing the petitions challenging the acquittal of these police officers. Now the case has been transferred to another single bench of Bombay High Court. This decision comes at a time when Justice Dere has finished the hearing of four out of five petitions challenging the acquittal of officers. Dere had been hearing the case on day-to-day basis and had reproached the CBI for their negligence and for not cooperating with the court. Dere has said that court is not getting expected co-operation from the CBI.

The information released on the Bombay High Court website on February 24 says that Justice Revati Mohite Dere bench hearing the criminal review petitions will now be hearing only the petitions for anticipatory bails. Justice NW Sambre’s bench will now be hearing the criminal review petitions. In this case, Sohrabuddin’s brother Rubabuddin had challenged the acquittal of former senior IPS officer of Gujarat DG Vanzara, Dinesh MN and Rajkumar Pandian. The CBI had filed a petition challenging the acquittal of former IPS officer of Gujarat NK Amin and constable Dalpat Singh Rathore. Justice Dere had finished hearing four out of the five petitions related to the Sohrabuddin Sheikh case. Only the hearing of the petition challenging the acquittal of DG Vanjara was left.

Senior advocate of the Supreme Court and social activist Prashant Bhushan has also raised questions on removing Justice Dere from hearing this case. In a tweet he said, “Sohrabuddin murder case: Trial court judge Utpat threatens Shah with warrant. He is transferred. Successor Judge Loya who summons Shah dies mysteriously. New judge discharges Shah in one hearing. HC Judge Dere who questions discharge is also transferred! Malafide?”