Get National Investigating Agency chief in dock: Accused

An accused in the 26/11 terror attacks case on Monday sought permission from the trial court to examine the National Investigating Agency (NIA) chief SC Sinha, Gujarat DGP SS Khandwawala, Rahul Bhatt, son of film maker Mahesh Bhatt and fitness instructor Vilas Warak as defence witnesses.

The accused Sabuaddin Shaikh’s lawyer Ejaz Naqvi told the court that he wanted to examine these witnesses to establish that the FBI detainee David Headley had conducted recce before the attack and that his client was unnecessarily being dragged in the case.
He argued that according to the investigation agencies, Headley had also conducted ‘recce’ of the Osho Ashram in Pune near which a blast took place on February 13.

Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, however, opposed Shaikh’s application stating that the evidence of these witnesses was not relevant in the trial.

Nikam argued that Shaikh and Faheem Ansari belonged to one module while Headley belonged to another module. Headley may have been responsible for making videos which may have been shown to the 10 gunmen, including Mohammed Ajmal Kasab.
The court is likely to pass an order on the application on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the special court appointed Saba Qureshi, the assistant to advocate Shahid Azmi, as the new lawyer for Ansari.
Special judge ML Tahiliyani rejected Ansari’s plea for bail as he wanted to search for a new lawyer after his lawyer Azmi was shot dead a few days ago.