The court was to hear arguments on the charges to be framed against 11 accused, at present lodged at Sabarmati Jail in Ahmedabad, and one Mohd Hakim, produced from Tihar Jail in New Delhi.
A Delhi court today refused to allow a plea by an accused in the cases of the serial blasts of September 13, 2008 in New Delhi to hear arguments on charges, saying investigators were still to complete their work following the arrest of two absconding Indian Mujahideen suspects.
"Delay in trial is concern of the court as well. Since the two absconding accused have been arrested, it would not be expedient to hold the trial in their absence when they are likely to face trial along with other accused," additional sessions judge Santosh Snehi Mann said.
The court made the remarks while rejecting a plea by Jawahar Raza, the counsel for accused, Mohd Shakeel who opposed the contention of public prosecutor Rajeev Mohan seeking one month's time to complete investigation with regard to Shahzad, arrested on February 1, and Salman apprehended yesterday by Uttar Pradesh police.
Both the accused were wanted in connection with the serial blasts cases.
"Due steps would be taken to ensure that the rial is not delayed due to unavoidable circumstances," the court said.
It fixed the matter for March 20 for further proceedings which are being conducted through video conferencing.
The court was to hear arguments on the charges to be framed against 11 accused, at present lodged at Sabarmati Jail in Ahmedabad, and one Mohd Hakim, produced from Tihar Jail in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, the court directed Ahmedabad jail authorities to send the status report of a probe being conducted into the allegations of Indian Mujahideen suspects that they were being harassed and beaten up inside the prison.
A total of five cases were registered in connection with the serial blasts in the capital on September 13, 2008 which killed 26 persons and injured over 135 others.
Out of the 14 arrested accused, 11 are lodged in the Sabarmati jail while two suspects Md Hakim and Shahzad are in Tihar jail.
Salman, arrested by Uttar Pradesh police yesterday, was being brought to Delhi after being taken on transit remand to the Delhi police's Special Cell.
Mohd Saif, Zeeshan Ahmed, Mohd Shakeel, Zia-ur Rehman, Saquib Nissar, Quamuddin Kapadia and Mohd Sadiq Sheikh, who have been chargesheeted in blasts cases in New Delhi, are in Ahmedabad.
Mansoor Asghar Peerbhoy, Mobin Kader Sheikh, Akbar Ismail Chaudhary and Asif Basir Sheikh, who are accused of sending terror emails to different media houses minutes before the serial blasts, have also been taken to Ahmedabad.
All the accused have been chargesheeted under various provisions of the IPC, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Explosive Substances Act.
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