Thaindian News

New Delhi, Feb 21 (IANS) Eleven accused in the 2008 Delhi serial blasts, lodged in a Gujarat jail, Monday failed to appear before a Delhi court which pulled up authorities in that state and fixed March 8 to frame murder charges against all the 13 accused.Two accused, who are lodged in a Delhi jail, appeared before the court. All accused are suspected to be members of Indian Mujahideen terror outfit.

Additional Sessions Judge Santosh Snehi Mann directed the superintendent of Sabarmati Jail in Ahmedabad to explain about the non-compliance of the court’s order for presenting the 11 accused before her.

The court pulled up Ahmedabad police chief for his intervention which in the matter was beyond his authority.

“I fail to understand under what authority and in what role had the commissioner of police intervened in the law.”

The court was told by counsel for some of the accused lodged in Gujarat jail that the state government’ home department invoked legal provisions against them in October 2007, restricting their movement.

Four blasts at Connaught Place, Karol Bagh and Greater Kailash shook Delhi Sep 13, 2008 within a span of 31 minutes, killing 26 people and injuring 135 others.

Among the 13 accused, five were arrested by Delhi Police following a shootout at Batla House near Jamia Nagar in south Delhi Sep 19, 2008.

The court earlier said: “Prima facie offences punishable under sections 121A/121 (waging war against the nation), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 427 (mischief causing damage) read with 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC (Indian Penal Code) and relevant sections of the Explosive Substances Act, the Information Technology Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act are made out against the 13 accused.”