The Maharashtra government apprehends that suspected top Lashkar-e-Toibaterrorist Abu Jundal, an alleged mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai attacks, could be assassinated or kidnapped by rivals during his transit from jail to court, the NIA has told a Delhi court.
In an application moved before District Judge Amar Nath, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said that Jundal alias Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari, who is presently lodged in Arthur Road jail in Mumbai, could not be produced before the court here on several occasions despite issuance of production warrant against him.
NIA had chargesheeted Jundal here for allegedly conspiring to carry out terror activities in India; including the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and Aurangabad arms haul case.
In the plea, the agency said the proceedings in the case lodged was required to be expedited and the trial could be commenced through video conferencing.
Referring to a resolution passed by Maharashtra government in May 2013, the NIA said it “exclude the personal appearance of the accused Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari….After taking into consideration request of Commissioner of Police, Mumbai to exclude the above-mentioned accused person from the personal appearance before court in various cases registered against him due to possibility of assassination bid on the life of accused by rival group or a bid to kidnap.”
The agency also said the resolution was challenged by Jundal before Bombay High Court, but his plea was dismissed.
“By virtue of order passed by state government…And order of divisional bench of Bombay High Court…The jail authority is not producing accused Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari…Inspite of the production warrant issued by this court directing jail authority to produce the accused before him to answer the charges levelled,” the NIA application said.
The court has issued notice to Jundal’s counsel MS Khan for July 17 on NIA’s plea.
