Key accused to be tried in HC blast case
A city court on Monday formally framed charges against key accused Wasim Akram Malik for his alleged role in the Delhi high court blast case. Malik’s trial will begin soon.
A city court on Monday formally framed charges against key accused Wasim Akram Malik for his alleged role in the Delhi high court blast case. Malik’s trial will begin soon.
District Judge HS Sharma decided to begin the recording of evidence from October 15. Sharma had earlier held that there was “sufficient evidence” to frame charges under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 440 (mischief committed after preparation made for causing death or hurt), 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 323 (causing hurt) and 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt) of the IPC against Malik.
The special court, trying NIA cases, had on September 4 rejected the agency’s contention to charge Malik with offences under Sections 121A, 122 and 123 of the IPC (waging war against government of India) saying, “It cannot be said the act had been committed to ‘wage war’ against the Government of India”.
On September 7, 2011, a bomb went off at gate No. 5 of the Delhi high court, killing 15 people and injuring 79 others. Apart from Malik, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had chargesheeted five others. Accused Amir Abbas Dev, arrested by the agency, had later turned approver.
Three others — Amir Kamal, Junaid Akram Malik and Shakir Hussain Seikh alias Chota Hafiz — who are suspected members of the banned terror outfit Hizb-ul Mujahideen — are evading arrest. The sixth accused, a minor, is being adjudicated separately.