Delhi HC blast: Magistrate records accused's statement in-camera

Amir Abbas Dev, a key accused in the terror attack at the Delhi High Court reception in 2011, on Wednesday recorded his statement in-camera before a magistrate in Delhi in connection with the case.

Dev, chargesheeted by National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged role in the bomb explosion at the high court's reception on September 7, 2011, recorded his statement before an Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) in Patiala House Court complex.

According to court sources, Dev's statement was recorded following his request District Judge HS Sharma that his statement under section 164 of the CrPC should be recorded.

A magistrate had earlier also recorded Dev's statement under section 164 of the CrPC.

The statements recorded by a magistrate under section 164 of the CrPC binds a person and any deviation from it during the trial would make him liable for prosecution for offence of perjury.

Earlier, Dev had moved an application before the court saying he is willing to turn approver in the case.

According to the sources, the court would hear arguments on his application on May 9.

NIA had filed its chargesheet against six persons including three arrested accused Wasim Akram Malik, Amir Abbas Dev and a minor, besides three others Amir Kamal, Junaid Akram Malik and Shakir Hussain Seikh alias Chota Hafiz who are alleged members of banned terror outfit Hizb-ul Mujahideen and are evading arrest.

NIA had said the September 7, 2011, terror attack at the Delhi High Court reception was plotted with an aim to get the death sentence of the December 2001 Parliament attack case convict Afzal Guru commuted to life term.

NIA, in its 1,062-page chargesheet, had said two Pakistani nationals Abu Bilal and Abu Saifullah had planted the bomb at the entrance of gate number five of the Delhi High Court, killing 17 persons and injuring over 90.