Bombay High Court allows transfer of German Bakery blast convict to Yerwada jail

The Bombay High Court on Friday allowed transfer of German Bakery blast convict Himayat Baig, currently lodged in Arthur Road jail, from Mumbai to Yerwada prison in Pune.

While Baig has been awarded the death penalty by the trial court, the 33-year-old has requested the HC to defer hearing of confirmation of his conviction and sentencing till the National Investigation Agency completes its probe in the case.

With no hearing going on in HC, the prosecution had sought transfer of Baig from Arthur Road jail, a facility for housing undertrials, to Yerwada prison (for convicts).

A division bench of Justice V M Kanade and Justice M S Sonak allowed the application filed by the prosecution seeking the transfer. The court also posted the hearing of Baig's plea, challenging the lower court's decision, and the confirmation petition to January 5 for fixing a date for final hearing.

On February 13, 2010, 17 people, including five foreigners, were killed and 58 injured after a powerful bomb exploded inside the popular bakery in Pune. In April this year, the session's court in Pune awarded the death penalty to Baig, observing the case rarest of rare.