Justice BH Loya's death is a serious matter, observes Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Friday said the alleged mysterious death of special CBI judge BH Loya is a ‘serious matter.’

Justice BH Loya was hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case and had died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014, where he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. 

The Apex court has sought a response from Maharashtra government on pleas seeking an independent probe into it by observing, "This matter requires bi-party hearing rather than exparte."

A bench of justices Arun Mishra and MM Shantanagoudar asked Nishant R Katneshwarkar, the counsel of Maharashtra Government to file their reply by January 15.

Senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for Maharashtra-based journalist BR Lone who is one of the petitioners, said that she has instructions from Bombay lawyers association that this matter should not be heard by the top court.

The bench, however, said it will look into the petitions but will also consider the objections raised.

Advocate Varinder Kumar Sharma, who is appearing for Congress leader Tehseen Poonawala, another petitioner, said this is a case where a mysterious death of a judge has taken place and it needs to be investigated.

The bench then asked Katneshwarkar to file the post-mortem report and other relevant documents regarding the death of judge Loya besides taking instruction from the government.

The bench posted the matter for further hearing on January 15.

(With PTI inputs)