HC reserves judgment on charge-sheet

 
In response to the Court’s query on the incriminating material present against Madani, Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Chandramouli stated that Madani had delivered provocative speeches about conducting war against India and encouraged people to carry jihadi activities.

Further, the SPP said that phone records proved the main accused T Nazir made phone calls to Madani prior and after the blast. The calls were received by Madani using his wife Soofiya Madani’s phone. Talking about the main accused T Nazir, Abdul Rahim, Riyaz Bhatkal and Mujeeb Sarfuddin, the SPP said they had a common agenda of waging war against India and damage the economic fabric of the country. He also stated that books belonging to Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) were seized along with a calendar of SIMI, with incriminating messages on jihad scribbled on it.

The SPP contended that it was clear that all the accused in the case were active members of SIMI and working towards destabilising Indian society.

In his arguments, counsel for the petitioner Ravi B Naik contended the petitioner was being targeted because he was a Muslim and a political leader. Since he was acquitted after being an undertrial for nine years, designs were afoot to get him behind bars again, he contended.