Bombay High Court to conduct 2003 blasts trial via video-conference

The Bombay High Court has become tech-savvy.

After the hearings on the confirmation of the death sentence for Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab were conducted through video-conference — a first-of-its-kind arrangement made in the court to hear proceedings for security reasons, the HC will now conduct the death confirmation proceedings of the 2003 Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar blasts accused the same way.

A huge screen has been put up inside court room no 13, where Justice A M Khanwilkar and Justice P D Kode are presently hearing confirmation proceedings.

Officials involved in the setting up of the video link between the Arthur Road prison and the court said, “The link is being tested and will soon become operational. The court will conduct the proceedings through it.”

The reason for the shift is the huge cost being incurred and the heavy bandobast required to escort the three death row convicts to and from the court.

Two blasts at the Gateway of India and the Zaveri Bazaar had killed 52 people and injured more than 100 on August 25, 2003.
Five persons were arrested. Three — Fehmida, husband Hanif and Ashrat Ansari — were sentenced to death.