The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to Gujarat police officer N K Amin, described by investigators as a “potential accused” in the fake encounter killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh. Amin is alleged to have supervised the disposal of the body of the victim’s wife Kausar Bi.

The court was hearing a state Government petition challenging a trial court’s order granting him anticipatory bail.

A bench of Justice Tarun Chatterjee and Justice P K Balasubramanyam has sought reply from Superintendent of Police N K Amin and set further hearing for Friday.

Amin is being investigated in the killing of criminal Sohrabuddin Sheikh in a fake encounter. Police also killed Sheikh’s wife Kausar Bi, whom they had picked up with him. The named main accused in the case are police officers D G Vanzara and Pandyan.

Amin’s counsel Nageshwar Rao pleaded to be heard before the court issued notice to his client. He said news reports of the notice could have repercussions on Amin’s regular bail plea, pending before the trial court.

But the bench turned him down. “Don’t bother at this stage. We’ll hear your contention on Friday and then decide,” the judges said.

Sohrabuddin’s brother Rubabuddin, the petitioner in the fake-encounter case, and amicus curiea Additional Solicitor-General Gopal Subramaniam had questioned the Gujarat Government for not challenging the grant of anticipatory bail to Amin, suspected to be involved in the entire conspiracy and a “potential accused.”