NIA Judge Resigns After Acquitting 5 in Mecca Masjid Blast Case
10 persons allegedly belonging to right-wing organisations were named as accused in the case.
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Verdict on 2007 Mecca Masjid Bomb Blast Case Today
A Special NIA Court in Hyderabad is expected to pronounce the judgement on Monday, 16 April, in the 2007 case of Mecca Masjid blast which claimed nine lives.
The fourth additional metropolitan sessions-cum-special court for NIA cases had concluded the trial last week and posted the case for judgment on 16 April.
Ten persons allegedly belonging to right-wing organisations were named as accused in the case.
However, only five of them, (Devendra Gupta, Lokesh Sharma, Swami Aseemanand alias Naba Kumar Sarkar, Bharat Mohanlal Rateshwar alias Bharat Bhai and Rajendra Chowdhary) were arrested and faced trial in the case.
Two other accused, Sandeep V Dange and Ramchandra Kalsangra, are absconding while another accused, Sunil Joshi, has passed away. Investigations continue against two other accused.
Swami Aseemanand and Bharat Mohanlal Rateshwar are out on bail, while three others are lodged in the central prison in Hyderabad under judicial remand.
In March 2017, a court in Rajasthan had sentenced Gupta and another convict to life in jail in the Ajmer Dargah blast case.
Meeca Masjid Blast Verdict: Accused Aseemanand Brought to Nampally Court
Swami Aseemanand, whose real name is Naba Kumar Sarkar, was arrested on 19 November 2010 from Haridwar in connection with the blast at the Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad on 18 May 2007, in which nine persons had died. He was granted bail by a Hyderabad court on 23 March 2017.
Mecca Masjid Blast Verdict: All Accused Acquitted
All accused in the 2007 Hyderabad Mecca Masjid blast case have been acquitted by the Special NIA court in Hyderabad on Monday, 16 April.
To Decide Further Action Soon: NIA on Mecca Masjid Blast Verdict
After a special court acquitted all accused in the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast in Hyderabad, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) said, “We will examine the court judgment after we get a copy of the same and decide further course of action,” ANI reported.
Up to the Govt to Decide If Further Probe Needed: Ashok Gehlot, Congress
Reacting on the Special NIA Court’s verdict in the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case, Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said, “It is now up to the government to examine order and decide if further appeal is required.”
'Hindu Terror' Was a Bogus Claim by UPA: Aseemanand's Lawyer
Aseemanand's counsel JP Sharma told reporters after the verdict that that "the prosecution failed to prove allegations against the five accused who faced trial in the case and hence the court acquitted them."
When asked about the 'Hindu terror' links, he said that it a was “bogus claim by the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government.”
Justice Has Not Been Done: Asaduddin Owaisi on Mecca Masjid Blast Verdict
AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) president Asaduddin Owaisi hit out at the Special NIA Court verdict in which all accused in the Mecca Masjid blast were acquitted. “The NIA didn’t pursue the case as expected from it /was not allowed by Political Masters,” Owaisi wrote on Twitter.
'Saffron Terror' a Derogatory Term: BJP
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra hit out the Congress after the Mecca Masjid blast verdict. He targeted former Finance Minister P Chidambaram for using the term ‘Saffron terror.’
Patra further demanded an apology from Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. They should apologise to the nation for “disgracing Hindu religion,” he said.
Witness Turned Hostile: Shivraj Patil
Former Home Minister Shivraj Patil claimed that witnesses turned hostile in the Mecca Masjid blast case, Times Now reported. The Congress leader also told few news channels that the NIA must appeal against the verdict.
Still Have Faith in Agencies: Mecca Masjid Bomb Blast Witness
Mohammad Irfan, the man who spotted the second bomb at Hyderabad’s at Mecca Masjid in 2007 and informed the security personnel, said that he still believes in the investigative agencies.
“Innocent people who were killed in the blast have not been given justice. But, we still have faith in our agencies and hope that the real culprits are caught,” Irfan told ANI.
Special NIA Judge Resigns
Hours after delivering verdict in the Mecca Masjid blast case, the special NIA court judge Ravindra Reddy resigned from his post.
Hours after acquitting Swami Aseemanand and four others in the Mecca Masjid blast case, the special NIA court judge has resigned, reported NDTV.
On 18 May 2007, a powerful explosion at the historic Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad killed nine people and injured at least 50 others.
- Ten persons allegedly belonging to right-wing organisations were named as accused in the case
- However, only five of them were arrested and faced trial
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