Alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba bomb maker Abdul Karim Tunda on Tuesday told a Delhi court that he does not have money to hire a lawyer.
Tunda, who was produced before Metropolitan Magistrate Jay Thareja in a packed court room, was asked as to who will represent him in the case.
“Sir, I do not have the money to pay to the lawyer,” he told the judge.
Earlier, a small group of lawyers had surrounded Tunda while he was being taken inside the courtroom and tried to convince him that they be allowed to represent him.
However, advocate M.S. Khan later appeared and told the court that Tunda has already signed a vakalatnama (power of attorney) in his favour. Mr. Khan said he had gone to the office of the Special Cell to get the papers signed from Tunda.
During the proceedings, the Magistrate asked Tunda to come forward and apprise the court about his lawyer. Tunda said though he did not know much about Mr. Khan, but he will represent him.
As soon as the proceedings began, the Magistrate asked the police whether Tunda had been medically examined before being produced in court.
Additional Public Prosecutor Rajiv Mohan told the court that Tunda has been medically examined, but even before he could complete his submission, a lawyer interrupted the proceedings shouting “Tunda is a terrorist.”
The Magistrate and Special Cell officers who were present in the courtroom tried to calm down the agitated lawyer, but he continued shouting and the commotion prompted the judge to order in-camera proceedings. — PTI
