Following the petition filed by journalist Ashish Khetan in the Bombay high court seeking a fresh probe in the Pune German Bakery blast case by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), an advocate on Monday filed a similar application alleging that Himayat Baig, the lone convict in the 2010 Pune German Bakery blast case, was falsely implicated and hence a fresh probe should be directed. Advocate Firoz Ansari, in his application, has alleged that the state anti-terrorism squad (ATS) has always picked up innocent men and implicated them in blast cases. “The NIA should be asked to re-investigate the case in the light of the arrest of Indian Mujahideen member Yasin Bhatkal,” Mr Ansari said. Mr Ansari’s application is the second such plea made before the court as Mr Khetan too had filed an application seeking the same relief. Both the applications were filed seeking to intervene in the appeal filed by Baig challenging the death penalty awarded to him and the death confirmation petition. The division bench of Justices P.V. Hardas and P.N. Deshmukh on Monday adjourned the applications and Baig’s appeal and the death confirmation petition till October 29. The court, however, asked both the interveners to show under law if they can be permitted to intervene in a death confirmation petition. Meanwhile, jail authorities sought permission from the court to shift Baig to Yerawada prison as there were no adequate measures at the Arthur Road prison where Baig is presently lodged. The court said it would consider this on the next date of hearing. On February 13, 2010, a bomb exploded inside the bakery killing 17 persons, including five foreigners and injuring 58 others. In April this year, the sessions court in Pune awarded death penalty to Baig observing that it was a rarest of rare case.
