Shahid Azmi appeared for Faheem Ansari, who was acquitted by the trial court along with accused Sabauddin Ahmed in May 2010.
The role of slain advocate Shahid Azmi cannot be underestimated in the 26/11 trial which was upheld in the Bombay high court on Monday.
Azmi appeared for Faheem Ansari, who was acquitted by the trial court along with accused Sabauddin Ahmed in May 2010.
Azmi was shot down by alleged Bharat Nepali aides on February 11, 2010, just before the trial judge ML Tahaliyani was to hear final arguments from both prosecution and the defence in the case.
Both were accused of preparing hand-made maps and sending it to the Lashkar-e-Taiba leaders which were allegedly given to each of the 10 Pakistani gunmen, one of which was found inside the right hand side pocket of slain accused, Abu Ismail.
The court acquitted him saying the prosecution’s evidence to prove he was part of the conspiracy is “unreliable”. He was arrested for allegedly carrying out an attack on a CRPF camp in Rampur.
After cross-examining Dr Sanjay Mohite, head of Forensic Medicine, who conducted the autopsy of slain terrorist Abu Ismail, in whose pocket the maps were found, Azmi brought it on record that there were no blood stains on the map despite heavy bleeding.
Azmi also cross-examined the panch witness who was present when the map was allegedly recovered from the dead body of the Ismail in a similar way.
Azmi suggested to the witness about the difference in ink between the two panchnamas of both the witness and the senior police inspector who verified the document. These two documents were penned within half hour as per the prosecution case. The trial court had considered Azmi’s cross-examination and held that the document “doubtful”.
Azmi grilled the prosecution star witness-Nooruddin Shaikh- who had allegedly met Ansari in Nepal and saw him hand over the maps to Shaikh. He brought on record that Shaikh didn’t produce any documents to show that he was in Nepal.
In the trial court judgement, the judge held that police failed to collect any evidence from Sonali check post which created doubt about the witness’ testimony.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}