2006 train blasts case: witness turns hostile

A witness in the 7/11 serial train blasts case retracted his earlier statement that his house in Mumbra was allegedly used by two accused for hatching a conspiracy.

A witness in the 7/11 serial train blasts case retracted his earlier statement that his house in Mumbra was allegedly used by two accused for hatching a conspiracy.

HT Image

On Friday, he said in court that no such meeting ever took place.

The designated MCOCA court declared the witness hostile after the prosecution moved an application seeking the same.

“The court declared the witness hostile after the prosecution filed an application seeking it. The witness denied that any such meetings ever took place and stated that his statement was recorded under duress,” said defence advocate Wahab Khan.

The witness had stated before a local magistrate that his relatives and accused Mohammad Sajid Ansari and Abdul Wahid Shaikh had asked for his house keys and held a meeting in his house twice before the blasts.

However, he changed his statement in court.

The examination of the victim will now continue on January 31.

On July 11, 2006, seven bombs ripped apart first-class coaches of seven Mumbai’s suburban trains, killing 187 people and injuring 817 others.

The Anti-Terrorism Squad had arrested 13 people in connection with the serial train blasts.