Court discharges three in Azad Maidan violence case

The esplanade metropolitan magistrate's court on Monday discharged three of the 51 accused arrested in connection with the August 11 Azad Maidan violence after the crime branch moved an application saying that the investigation showed that they were not the part of the mob.

"The court has discharged Anees Davare, Aslam Sheikh and Abbas Ujjainwala after the crime branch moved an application under Section 169 (release of accused when evidence is deficient) of the Criminal Procedure Code", said defence lawyer Khalid Azmi.

Azmi said that Davare is a student who also works in a garage, while Aslam at the time of the incident was at an ATM to withdraw money and was captured by CCTV cameras.

Also, Abbas Ujjainwala, a resident of suburban Kurla, was in his colony at the time of incident. However, later he went out to look for one Fahim, who is also an accused in the case, when he was also picked up.

Meanwhile, five accused have moved a bail application which will come up for hearing shortly.

Two youths were killed and 52, including 44 policemen, were injured on August 11 when a rally called to protest alleged atrocities on Muslims in Assam and Myanmar turned violent.

Protesters went on a rampage attacking the police, including some women constables, torching media and police vehicles, as well as smashing cameras of photo journalists and damaging buses.