The Hindu : Front Page : Charges framed over 26/11

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Thursday, May 07, 2009
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Charges framed over 26/11

Staff Reporter

Mumbai: The three main accused persons in the November 26, 2008 terror strikes in Mumbai will face charges of criminal conspiracy to wage war against the Government of India, among other grave offences. The number of charges total 86.

The Special Sessions Court here on Wednesday framed charges against the accused. They include Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab, Fahim Ansari and Sabahuddin Ahmed, and 35 people who are yet to be nabbed. The charge of criminal conspiracy applies to all the accused. Ajmal and Ansari have other independent charges against them.

Judge M.L. Tahaliyani stated that Ajmal, Ansari and Sabahuddin had committed offences punishable under Section 120B (punishment for criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

All the three accused denied the charges and pleaded not guilty. When Mr. Tahaliyani asked Ajmal if he accepted the charges, the accused replied in Hindi: “All this is false. I do not accept this.”

On Wednesday, after the framing of charges, the accused were told to state their name, age and other details as per court procedure. Asked about his age, Ajmal promptly said ‘21’ in Hindi, leaving the courtroom in splits.

The Special Public Prosecutor told the media later: “The cat is out of the bag.”

Ajmal addressed the prosecutor directly in the open court and said: “Had you understood me, I would not have been here.” The court told him to desist from such behaviour.

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