Prosecution awaits NBWs against absconding accused
26/11 culprits may be proclaimed offenders, if they do not respond
After obtaining addresses of 35 absconding accused, including JuD chief Hafeez Muhammad Saeed, in 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case from the Centre, the prosecution is all set to move a special court for issue of non-bailable warrants against them.
“The addresses of absconding accused have been provided to the investigating agency by the Government of India... They are expected to be filed in the court on Monday, paving the way for issue of non-bailable warrants,” an official said.
Confirming this, prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said: “We have complete addresses of prime absconding accused and shall provide them to the court for issue of NBWs.”
Earlier, the court had not issued warrants because of incomplete names and addresses of the accused. It has asked for complete addresses.
In the November 26 terror attacks case, however, most of the absconding accused are believed to be in Pakistan and if the court issues warrants against them, then the Government of India will have to approach the authorities in neighbouring nation through Interpol for execution of warrants.
Asked if the absconding accused would be sent to India for trial if they were arrested by the interpol, Prosecutor Nikam refused to comment.
However, the accused will be declared as proclaimed offenders, if they do not respond to the NBWs, the official said.
One of the 35 absconders, Hafeez Muhammed Saeed, was recently discharged on technical grounds by a Pakistan court in connection with the Mumbai terror attacks case.
He is wanted in India as lone surviving gunman Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab has implicated him in his confession saying Saeed was an alleged mastermind. Besides, Saeed and LeT commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, other absconding accused are Abu Hamza, Abu Al Kama alias Amjid, Abu Kaahfa, Mujjamil alias Yusuf, Zarar Shah, Abu Fahad Ullah, Abu Abdul Rehman, Abu Anas, Abu Bashir, Abu Imran, Abu Mufti Saeed, Hakim Saab, Yusuf Mursheed, Aakib, Abu Umar Saeed, Usman, Major General Sahab, Kharak Singh, Mohammed Ishfak, Javid Iqbal, Sajid Iftikhar, Col R Saadat Ullah, Khurram Shahdad, Abu Abdurrehman, Abu Mavia, Abu Anis, Abu Bashir, Abu Hanjla Pathan, Abu Saria.
