A city court paved the way for initiation of trial in the 2008 serial blasts case on Friday as it framed charges against 13 suspected Indian Mujahideen men for their role in the terror act which left 26 people dead and 135 injured in the city. Additional sessions judge Santosh Snehi Mann framed the charges after 11 accused, who were
lodged in Sabarmati Jail at Ahmedabad, were produced in her court. After hearing the prosecution and defence arguments, the court ordered the trial of 13 accused.
“Prima facie, the offences punishable under Sections 121-A/121 (waging war against the nation), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 427 (mischief to property) read with 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and other relevant sections of the Explosive Substances Act, the Information Technology (IT) Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act are made out against the 13 accused,” the court said.
The court framed charges against Mohammed Shakeel, Mohammed Saif, Zeeshan Ahmed, Zia-ur-Rehman, Saquib Nisar, Mohammed Sadique, Kayamuddin Kapadia, Mohammed Hakim, Mohammed Mansoor Ashgar Peerbhoy, Mubin Kadar Sheikh, Asif Bashiruddin, Mohammed Akbar Ismail Chaudhary and Shahzad Ahmed.
The court would start recording testimonies of prosecution witnesses from May 31 onwards.