‘Pune techie should be made approver in blasts case’

The crime branch, which is investigating the source of the terror email preceding the Ahmedabad and Delhi serial blasts, stands to gain if accused Mansoor Peerbhoy is made an approver in the case, say city lawyers.

The software engineer from Pune was recently arrested by the Mumbai police in connection with the blasts.

The special MCOCA court is yet to decide on Peerbhoy’s application and has kept the matter for hearing on Wednesday. He had filed an application indicating his willingness to turn an approver and help police build a case against other accused in the blasts case.
“The basic principle of the criminal justice system is to collect evidence to prove a crime. Often the best clues in the course of investigation come from the people connected to the crime,” said Amit Desai, a defence lawyer.

“An approver is a competent and reliable witness, provided his evidence is corroborated in material aspects,” said Ujwal Nikam, special public prosecutor in the 1993 serial blasts case. In the 1993 case, two accused were made approvers.

One of them had a major role in conviction of at least 33 accused, who were part of the conspiracy.

Only the “small fish” in the conspiracy, who have a peripheral role to play, should be made approvers, opine some other lawyers.

“An approver should be someone who is ‘thickly’ involved in the conspiracy. But, the prosecution cannot make the key conspirator in the case, an approver. Given a choice between an accused, who actually stabs the victim and an accused who picks the body and helps dispose it of, I would choose the latter as an approver. If I choose the main accused, it won’t serve any purpose,” said Satish Borulkar, chief public prosecutor of the Bombay High Court.

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