The Esplanade court turned into a fortress on Saturday, when top terror suspect Sayyed Zabiuddin Ansari, alias Abu Jundal, was produced in court after being brought to Mumbai from Delhi.
He is now being held in an isolated lock up at the crime branch headquarters, with elaborate multi-layer security arrangements to watch over him round the clock.
Jundal, 30, was produced before chief metropolitan magistrate S.S. Shinde at the Esplanade court, who ruled that he be handed over to the crime branch, provided that the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had no objection. Jundal was then produced before additional chief metropolitan magistrate P.S. Rathod.
Wearing a light coloured kurta and salwar, Jundal stood calmly in the dock, looking keenly at public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, while the latter made his arguments.
Mr Nikam said that Jundal played a key role in the planning and execution of the 26/11 terror attacks. He was present in a control room set up in Pakistan to monitor the raids, and was in constant touch with the 10 attackers, including Ajmal Aamir Kasab.
Jundal was asked if he had anything to say, and his reply, which was in the negative, was the only word that he uttered during the entire proceedings.
The premises and surroundings of the court were heavily guarded by teams from Azad Maidan.