Dar pleads not guilty to 2005 blasts in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative Tariq Ahmed Dar, the alleged mastermind of the 2005 Delhi blasts, Friday told a city court that he was not guilty of the serial bombings that killed 60 people and was ready to stand trial.

Additional Sessions Judge Babulal ordered a speedy trial after Dar pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

On Monday, charges were framed against Dar and four others in the case.

Dar had been booked under Section 121 of the Indian Penal Code (waging or attempting to wage war against the government of India), 121 A (conspiracy to commit offences for waging war), 122 (collecting arms for waging war), 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), Section 4 of the Explosives Act and Sections 17 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities Act.

The court will hear the charges against the other four on Jan 21, when the court will give them an opportunity to either plead guilty or face trial.

Delhi Police last month filed a supplementary charge sheet in the court claiming they had more evidence against all the accused.

The charge sheet was filed against Dar, mentioning his call details that allegedly established that he was in touch with LeT operatives Abu Al Kama and others to hatch the conspiracy.

Records of the calls made before and after the blasts point to the complicity of the accused, the police alleged in the charge sheet, which also names Mohammed Hussain and Mohammed Rafiq Shah as the accused.

Details of illegal monetary transactions involving Dar and others were also mentioned in the charge sheet.