India, Sept. 29 -- The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to examine a plea against the Bombay High Court order that upheld the acquittal of all 22 accused in the alleged fake encounter killings of gangster Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife Kausar Bi and aide Tulsiram Prajapati in 2005, while voicing concern that 92 witnesses had turned hostile.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued notice on the plea filed by Nayabuddin Shaikh, brother of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, challenging the May 7 judgment of the High Court that acquitted 21 police personnel from Rajasthan and Gujarat and a farmhouse owner.

The bench indicated it would examine selected witness statements relevant to the acquittal.

"We would...