The High Court has adjourned the hearing on a petition filed by Nafiaz Shaikh, one of the convicts in the 2006 Mandar Surlakar murder case, who has sought premature release from prison.

Shaikh has contended that three of his co-convicts — Rohan Dhungat, Ryan Pinto and Shankar Tiwari — have already been released prematurely and sought similar relief.

The High Court, however, deferred the hearing to the week commencing October 12, noting that the Supreme Court is likely to hear the Goa government’s Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) challenging the premature-release orders in the first week of October.
The outcome of the Supreme Court proceedings could have a bearing on Shaikh’s plea, following which the High Court will take up his petition.