A special NIA court in Hyderabad on Monday acquitted all accused in the 2007 case of Mecca Masjid blast.
A special NIA court in Hyderabad on Monday acquitted all accused in the 2007 case of Mecca Masjid blast.
The blast at the historic Mecca Masjid on May 18, 2007 during Friday prayers had killed 9 and left 58 others injured.
The fourth additional metropolitan sessions-cum-special court for NIA cases had concluded the trial and last week posted the case for judgement on April 16.
After initial investigation by the local police, the case was transferred to the Central Bureau Of Investigation (CBI), which filed a charge sheet.
Subsequently, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the case from the CBI in 2011.
Ten persons allegedly belonging to right-wing organisations were named as accused in the case. However, only five of them -- Devendra Gupta, Lokesh Sharma, Swami Aseemanand alias Naba Kumar Sarkar, Bharat Mohanlal Rateshwar alias Bharat Bhai and Rajendra Chowdhary - were arrested and faced trial in the case.
Here is a timeline of events leading up to the day of verdict:
May 18, 2007: Blast at historic Mecca Masjid during Friday prayers kills 9 and injures 58 others
June 2010: RSS activist Sunil Joshi named as an accused by CBI. Joshi was shot dead by three unknown assailants on December 29, 2007.
November 19, 2010: Jatin Chatterjee aka Swami Aseemanand, a member of the Hindu group Abhinav Bharat, arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
2010: The CBI also arrests other accused including Devender Guptha and Lokesh Sharma.
December 18, 2010: Aseemanand confesses to his involvement in the Mecca Masjid blast before the court.
April 2011: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) takes over the case from the CBI.
March 23, 2017: Aseemanad granted bail by Hyderabad court, paving way for his release from jail after seven years.
March 31., 2017: Aseemanad released from Chanchalguda jail.
February 15, 2018: Lt Col Prasad Purohit, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case and a witness in Mecca Masjid bomb blast case, turns hostile.
April 16, 2018: All accused acquitted by special NIA court
(With PTI inputs)
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