2008 Delhi serial blasts: Court to frame charges Feb 21 (Second lead)

NEW DELHI - A Delhi court Saturday found sufficient evidence to put to trial 13 suspected Indian Mujahideen (IM) terrorists in the 2008 serial blasts here in which 26 people were killed. Charges against them would be framed Feb 21.

The court discharged accused Salman in all the five cases as there was no material on record to prima facie show his involvement in the serial blasts.

Additional Sessions Judge Santosh Snehi Mann said: “I am of the opinion that all 13 IM suspects accused are required to be tried together for the offences committed by them as their acts are connected with each other in point of time, cause and effect, principal and subsidiary acts which make part of one transaction.”

All the accused are facing charges under penal provisions including murder, attempt to murder and waging war against the nation, under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Explosive Substances Act.

Four blasts at Connaught Place, Karol Bagh and Greater Kailash shook Delhi Sep 13, 2008 within a span of 31 minutes, killing 26 people and injuring 135 others.

Five cases were registered in connection with the serial blasts at Gaffar Market in Karol Bagh, Barakhamba Road in Connaught Place, M-Block Market in Greater Kailash and recovery of a bomb near India Gate.

All the five cases have been clubbed by the court for the purpose of framing of charges and trial saying that “they arise from the series of same transaction”.

Charges will be framed against Mohammed Shakeel, Mohammed Saif, Zeeshan Ahmed, Zia-ur-Rehaman, Saquib Nisar, Mohammed Sadique, Kayamuddin Kapadia, Mohammed Hakim, Mohammed Mansoor Ashgar Peerbhoy, Mubin Kadar Sheikh, Asif Bashiruddin, Mohammed Akbar Ismail Chaudhary and Shahzad Ahmed.

Out of the 13 accused, 11 are lodged in Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad city for their alleged involvement in the blasts there.

The court said that all the 13 suspected accused should be present in court Feb 21, when charges would be framed against them. The proceedings took place through video conferencing.

The court issued production warrants against all the accused to ensure their presence that day.

Among the 13 accused, five men were arrested by Delhi Police following an encounter at Batla House here Sep 19, 2008.

Delhi Police have registered the case under various provisions of different laws, including anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The court said: “Prima facie offences punishable under sections 121A/121 (waging war against the nation), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 427 (mischief causing damage) read with 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC (Indian Penal Code) and relevant sections of the Explosive Substances Act, the Information Technology Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act are made out against the 13 accused.”

The blast was targeted against general public to cause public disorder, panic, terror to disturb peace with mission of vendetta against the government of India, the court said.

“The terror e-mails sent to electronic and print media around the time of blast was the result of criminal conspiracy involving 13 of them,” the court said.