Delhi blasts: Court to record witness' statements on Oct 29

A Delhi court today fixed October 29 for recording statements of prosecution witnesses in the September 2008 Delhi serial blasts cases in which 13 suspected Indian Mujahideen (IM) members are facing trial.

Additional Sessions Judge Daya Prakash, who had scheduled the matter for today, listed the trial proceedings for October 29 as lawyers at Patiala House Courts complex were on strike.

During the day's proceedings, some of the accused persons, currently lodged in Mumbai jail, were produced before the court and the judge directed Mumbai Police officials, who were escorting them, to bring them on the next date of hearing.

The trial proceedings in September 13, 2008 serial blasts cases were stalled since July this year and these five cases were transferred to the court of ASJ Daya Prakash by an August 3 administrative order of the Delhi High Court. The high court, on September 4, had stayed the recording of evidence in these cases on a plea of one of the accused that the administrative order to transfer the trial to another court would cause delay and prejudice to them.

The counsel, appearing for the accused, had earlier told the court that the high court had said that evidence should not be recorded in the case till September 17. 

The September 13, 2008 serial blasts in Delhi had claimed 26 lives and left 135 people injured. Five cases were registered in connection with the serial blasts at Gaffar Market in Karol Bagh, Barakhamba Road in Connaught Place, M-Block Market in Greater Kailash and recovery of a bomb near India Gate. 

Among the accused, five men were arrested by the police after an encounter at Batla House here on September 19, 2008. All the five cases were clubbed by the lower court for the purpose of framing of charges and trial, saying that "they arise from the series of same transaction".

The accused facing trial in the case are -- Mohd Shakeel, Mohd Saif, Zeeshan Ahmed, Zia-ur-Rehaman, Saquib Nisar, Mohd Sadique, Kayamuddin Kapadia, Mohd Hakim, Mohd Mansoor Ashgar Peerbhoy, Mubin Kadar Sheikh, Asif Bashiruddin, Mohd Akbar Ismail Chaudhary and Shahzad Ahmed.