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.
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.
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.
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.
'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.