‘Abstained from PM security duty to record statement of accused’

Sanjay Mohite,who had recorded the confessional statements of two blast accused — Dr Tanweer Ansari and Sajid Mansuri — three months after the blasts,was in the dock testifying how he had to give up on the PM’s security duty to record the confessional statement of Ansari.

“Mohite,who was then DCP (Preventive),was one of the many DCPs who were put on the security duty during the PM’s day-long visit to Mumbai. Mohite told the court that he had to do away with the duty as Ansari’s confession had to be recorded,” said defence lawyer Abdul Wahab Khan.

Confessional statements recorded under Section 164 of The Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) is admissible in court and is used as an evidence in the case.

Mohite was called as a witness after the accused found through the RTI Act that Mohite was assigned bandobast duty. The accused have earlier claimed that the confessional statements are false and have been taken under duress.

Mohite,who was cross examined by senior defence counsel Harshad Ponda,said the confession was recorded over two days— October 4 and 5— and as the recording of the statement was already underway,he decided to continue with it.

“Mohite claimed he did not write to the higher ups seeking permission to abstain from the duty,” Khan said.

Seven RDX bombs,kept in the first class coaches of Mumbai’s suburban trains,had exploded on July 11,2006,killing 188 people and injuring 817.