Goa, Sept. 8 -- 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, to the week commencing October 12.

Shaikh has sought premature release, arguing that three of his co-convicts - Rohan Dhungat, Ryan Pinto and Shankar Tiwari - have already been released.

However, the High Court deferred the matter after noting that the Supreme Court is likely to hear the Goa government's Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) challenging the orders granting premature release to the three co-convicts in the first week of October.

The High Court is therefore expected to consider Shaikh's plea after there is greater clarity on the Supreme Court proceedings concerning the earli...