Saquib Nachan, prime accused in the Mulund bomb blast case, created a sensation in the POTA court yesterday by submitting a written application saying he had no faith in Judge A P Bhangale. He did not stop at that: he also told everyone present in court: "I have no faith I will get justice in this court." He thus raised doubts not only about the judge but about the court as well.
| Brilliant legal strategy, Oliver Wendell Douchebag. |
But all this wasn't just histrionics; it was part of a plan and a pattern. Investigators say Nachan was only following the al-Qaeda manual in letter and spirit. The manual states that "al-Qaeda members, if caught, need to make allegations against the state agencies". The manual, first obtained by the Mumbai police in December 2002 from the Pragma Soft office of another blast accused, Shaikh Muzamil">Shaikh Muzamil, in Aurangabad, lays down the code of conduct for al-Qaeda members.
| On the other hand Muzamil works really well when constipation strikes... |
According to investigators, Nachan has "religiously" followed its text all along, from the point of organising training camps, people 'against the enemy' to storing arms. The application in court yesterday, which is only the latest step according to the manual, took even Nachan's lawyer Mubin Solkar by surprise. Just as lawyers and prosecutors were getting ready for framing of charges in the blast case, Nachan whipped out a rod pulled out the application, which was also signed by 12 other accused. Advocate Solkar immediately withdrew from the case. "I was not aware of this application. I am an officer of the court and will not help anyone to prevent the court from following the due process of law," Solkar told court.
| "I wudn't gettin' paid much anyway, an' havin' dis guy as a client sure ain't gonna help my won-lost record." |
Judge Bhangale, who was severely pissed off very upset at the developments, declared he would not hear any application filed by any accused in the Mulund blast case till August 16 and allowed Nachan and other accused to approach the Supreme Court to get the case transferred to another court. "If Nachan expects acquittal, he will not get that in any court. Recovery of arms and ammunition from the accused and their confessions have made the prosecution's case strong," a police officer said.
| "... even though most of the witnesses are dead." |
Public prosecutor S G Golkar said, "Judge Bhangale knows the entire case thoroughly. We have conducted the case before him from day one. That is the reason Nachan does not want the case before him."
The application filed by Nachan was also signed by 12 other accused, namely, Asib Mulla, Gulam Khotal, Mohammed Kamil, Farhaan Khot, Noor Mohammed Ansari, Anwar Ali Khan, Nadeem Paloba, Muzammil Ansari, Haroon Rashid Lohar, Rashid Ansari, Adnan Mulla and Mohammed Sayyed Siddiqui. Ateef Mulla, Dr Wahid Ansari and Arif Hussain Shaikh, however, did not sign it. Mulla and Ansari's bail pleas are pending before POTA court. They will now be heard only after August 16. |