Judge Loya’s Son Anuj Under Pressure, Probe Death, Says Uncle

Judge BH Loya was hearing the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case involving Amit Shah before he died.

Anuj Loya and other relatives said that for the family, Judge Loya’s passing in December 2014 was a sad and private matter.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

Another of Judge Brijgopal Harkishan Loya’s relatives has spoken out, after his son Anuj addressed a press conference about the death the special CBI judge who was hearing the Sohrabuddin encounter case – in which BJP chief Amit Shah is a main accused.

On 14 January, Anuj Loya told reporters that the family had “no doubt” that his father died a natural death. Later that evening, Shrinivas Loya, the 81-year-old paternal uncle of BH Loya, told The Caravan that he suspected Anuj may have made the statement under pressure.

Now what should I say. Is he adult enough? He’s just crossed 18. There might be pressure (on him). If his (Anuj’s earlier) view is to be considered, it was to have an inquiry.

A probe should be conducted into the death, he told the magazine, that had earlier broken the story about the judge’s family suspecting discrepancies in the records of his death.

If you ask me as a citizen, not as a relative. My view as a citizen is the inquiry initiated in the Supreme Court has to proceed. This is my personal view as a citizen.

BH Loya’s Son Anuj Speaks to Media

Denying any suspicion over the death of Judge BH Loya, his son Anuj and a few other relatives, at a press conference on 14 January, appealed to the media, lawyers, NGOs and others "not to harass" them in the matter. They said that it was a “matter of great regret.”

The family has been traumatised since his demise. We don’t want any probe in his death. There’s no suspicion in the matter (of his passing).

Anuj Loya, son of BH Loya

The family’s lawyer Ameet Naik said the family is “very disturbed” about the entire issue and urged the media not to politicise the incident. He alleged that several people were trying to harass the family and spark panic. There is "no suspicion in the minds of the family members," Naik told reporters.

At the time of his death in Nagpur in 2014, Judge Loya was handling the politically sensitive Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. 

While several lawyers, former judges, social personalities and others have urged immediate and thorough enquiry into the death of the judge, the call to probe his demise has grown louder after four Supreme Court judges publicly alleged rot in the judiciary – under Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra.

(With inputs from IANS)

(This story has been updated to reflect Shrinivas Loya’s reaction.)

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