Gujarat : Former BJP MP Dinubhai Solanki Acquitted in Amit Jethwa Murder Case

AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former MP Dinubhai Boghabhai Solanki was acquitted on Monday in the Amit Jethwa murder case during the hearing held in the Gujarat High Court. The verdict saw all the accused, including Solanki, who were arrested in connection with the case, being acquitted. The High Court, in its observations, criticized the investigation agency and prosecution for their failure to unearth the truth.

The case dates back to 2010 when RTI activist Amit Jethwa was fatally shot in front of the Gujarat High Court premises. The incident led to the arrest of several individuals, including Dinu Bogha Solanki, who was out on bail at the time of the hearing.

On July 20, 2010, Amit Jethwa, a resident of Khambha and a prominent RTI activist, was gunned down near the Gujarat High Court at 8:30 p.m. Jethwa had arrived at the High Court to submit an affidavit, citing threats to his life from Dinu Bogha Solanki. Subsequently, Bhikhabhai Jethwa, the father of the deceased, lodged a complaint against seven individuals, including former Gir Somnath MP Dinu Bogha Solanki, at the Sola police station.

Following public outcry and demands for justice, the case was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2012 by the High Court. On November 5, 2013, Dinu Bogha Solanki, the former BJP MP from Gir Somnath, was arrested in connection with the murder. However, after spending three and a half months in custody, the court granted him bail.

The acquittal of Dinubhai Solanki and all other accused has brought a twist to the prolonged legal battle surrounding the Amit Jethwa murder case. The High Court’s scathing remarks regarding the investigation’s shortcomings raise questions about the efficacy of the investigative process and the pursuit of justice.