The sessions court in Mumbai on Wednesday framed 23 different charges against Zabihuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal in connection with the 2008 Mumbai terror attack case.
The sessions court in Mumbai on Wednesday framed 23 different charges against Zabihuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal in connection with the 2008 Mumbai terror attack case.
Jundal was produced before the court in tight security and when Judge G.A. Sanap explained to him the charges levelled against him by the investigating agency, he pleaded not guilty and said he wanted a trial.
It is the case of prosecution that Jundal is one of the handlers of the 26/11 terror attacks and he was allegedly present in the control room in Pakistan, issuing instructions to the attackers after watching live news on television. He is believed to be have issued directions to the terrorists holed up at Nariman House during the attacks.
For his alleged role in the terror attack, the judge framed charges against Jundal under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), Explosives Act, Explosive Substances Act, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, Railways Act and Customs Act. He has been charged for criminal conspiracy, waging war against the nation, murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping for murder, cheating, forgery and for abetting the terror attack from Pakistan.
Though the prosecution had filed draft charges in the case in December 2013, these charges were framed on Wednesday. Now the court may start a trial against him in due course.
The prosecution is also seeking permission to prosecute David Coleman Headley in the case. According to the prosecution, Headley played an active role in 26/11 terror attacks and hence they should be permitted to prosecute him too. The court was informed that the US court has convicted and sentenced him to 35 years in prison for his role in the Mumbai terror attack case. Headley entered into plea agreement with US in 2010 and willingly and voluntarily agreed that he was part of the conspiracy. They have sought issuance of Letter of Request (LR) against Headley for producing him before the court through video conferencing so that he could be prosecuted in this case. This application would be heard on Friday.
Jundal, currently lodged in Mumbai’s Arthur Road jail, is on trial for his alleged involvement in the Aurangabad arms haul case. A native of the Beed district of Maharashtra, Jundal was interrogated after he was brought here from Delhi where he had been arrested following his deportation from Saudi Arabia in June 2012.
The terror attacks of November 2008 left more than a hundred dead and many more injured.
