IM men claim double jeopardy on charges relating to blasts

"We are facing charges for the same set of offences in Mumbai. We cannot be tried here for the same as it would go against the principle of double jeopardy," defence counsel M S Khan told Additional Sessions Judge Santosh Snehi Mann.

Khan was making the arguments on a supplementary chargesheet filed against 14 accused allegedly belonging to Indian Mujahideen for their involvement in serial blasts in the national capital on September 13, 2008.

He said the alleged members of IM's media wing Mansoor Asghar Peerbhoy and his three associates were arrested from Mumbai and Pune and facing the charges for sending emails to media houses by hacking wi-fi system of a private firm.

During the brief arguments, Khan said another accused Kayamuddin Kapadia, who was linked to the cases here for being in contact with other accused by phone but the three SIM cards allegedly procured by him were found switched off since July 26, 2008, the day of Ahmedabad serial blasts.

Likewise, the counsel claimed the police failed to find any connection between alleged IM founder Amir Raza Khan and accused Asif Bashiruddin Sheikh.

Meanwhile, the court put the matter for November 18 for the prosecution to submit its rebuttal on the defence arguments on the charges which were sought to be framed against the accused in the five cases registered in connection with the serial blasts here.

Delhi Police as well as the defence counsel had wrapped up their arguments on the charges in the cases.

The proceedings were conducted through video conferencing as 11 out of 14 accused are lodged in Sabarmati Jail in Ahmedabad in connection with serial blasts in that city.

Three accused -- Mohd Hakim, Sahzad and Salman -- at present lodged in Tihar jail, were produced in the court.

Shahzad and Salman have been brought back to the national capital following their interrogation in connection with their alleged complicity in M Chinnaswamy Stadium blasts in Bangalore.

All the accused have been charged under IPC, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Explosive Substances Act.

The series of blasts had claimed 26 lives and left 135 others injured in the capital.