Malegaon Blasts; After 5 years in Jail, 8 Accused charge sheeted by ATS discharged

In a significant Order V V Patil, the designated Judge trying cases under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) has discharged Eight Accused persons charge sheeted by Anti- Terrorism Squad in the 2006 Malegaon Blasts Case.

It was Ten years after the Blasts in which 37 persons were Killed, the Court dropped charges against the Accused due to lack of evidence against them.

Nine Accused were arrested in the Case. One died during the pendency of Trial. The acquitted Accused are Narul Hooda Samsuda, Raes Ahmed Rajab Ali Mansoori, Dr Salman Farsi Abdul, Dr Farok Iqbal Ahmed Mukdoomi, Shaikh Mohammed Ali Alam Anamat Ali Shaikh, Asif Khan Bashir Khan, Mohammed Jahid Abdul Majid Ansari and Abrar Ahmed Ghulam Ahmed.

According to the Outlook Report

“Nine accused, suspected to have links with Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), were initially arrested in the case and charge sheeted by the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS). One of them died while the case was pending. Four others, including a Pakistan national, are absconding. Later, CBI, which took over investigations, also confirmed the charges against them. Subsequently, in 2011, NIA was asked to probe the case and the agency arrested another set of people belonging to the majority community, who continue to be accused in the case. However, the case took a turn when Swami Assemanand, an accused in the 2007 Mecca Masjis bombing case, allegedly revealed to the probe agency about the role of a Hindu right wing outfit in the 2006 Malagaon blasts case.”

Thereafter, NIA told the court that it had no evidence against the nine accused in the case.

Image from here.