Court issues warrants against 2 acquitted in 26/11 terror case

A sessions court in Mumbai has issued warrants against Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed asking the Uttar Pradesh police to produce the duo on September 23, as the Bombay High Court has admitted state's appeal against their acquittal in the 26/11 terror attack case.

A sessions court in Mumbai has issued warrants against Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed asking the Uttar Pradesh police to produce the duo on September 23, as the Bombay High Court has admitted state's appeal against their acquittal in the 26/11 terror attack case.

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The warrants were issued on August 27 by Principal Sessions Judge M L Tahaliyani, who was also the trial judge in
the same case.

The High Court had on August 12 admitted an appeal filed by Maharashtra Government challenging the acquittal of Faheem
and Sabauddin in the 26/11 terror attack case. The Court also ordered that in view of admission of state's appeal both the accused may be produced before a sessions court here.

Accordingly, warrants have been sent to UP police as Sabauddin is lodged in Lucknow jail while Faheem is kept in Bareilly jail. Both are entitled to seek bail after they are produced before a sessions court here, Crime Branch officer
Ramesh Mahale said.

Meanwhile, the High Court would tomorrow hear the matter pertaining to confirmation of death penalty given to lone surviving Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab in the 26/11 terror attack case.

Kasab's lawyers Amin Solkar and Farhana Shah have not yet filed appeal challenging the death penalty awarded to the
Pakistani terrorist.

"We might seek time from the High Court tomorrow as the appeal is not ready," said Solkar.

Faheem and Sabauddin are lodged in separate prisons in Uttar Pradesh in connection with a case of firing at CRPF camp
in Rampur, according to government's counsel Ujjwal Nikam.

Under CrPC, when an appeal is admitted the High Court issues a warrant directing that the accused be arrested and brought before it or a subordinate court which may send him to prison pending appeal's disposal or grant bail.

When the matter comes up tomorrow, the High Court may fix a date for a day to day hearing of the state's appeal and
confirmation of death penalty imposed on Kasab.

Kasab was convicted for killing 166 persons with nine other accomplices of LeT on November 26, 2008 at various
places in Mumbai.

He is lodged in the high security Central Prison at Arthur Road here and guarded by Indo-Tibetan Border Security
personnel round the clock.