The process of framing charges against the 13 accused in last year's July 11 serial blasts has been delayed as three defence lawyers were not present in the court today. Special MCOCA court judge Mrudula Bhatkar said she would complain to the Bar Council in this regard. The court has now posted the matter to June 22.

Today, the case was taken up for framing of charges at 11 am. But the three defence lawyers, Shahid Azmi, Anjali Iyer and Afroze Siddiqui, were not present. Moreover, only 10 accused, who are in judicial custody, were in court. Accused Mohammed Sajid Ansari was not present as he is unwell and is in the prison hospital at Arthur Road Jail.

The judge then posted the matter to 1 pm. Two other accused, who are in custody at Kalyan Jail, turned up by then. But the three defence lawyers were still not in.

Judge Bhatkar then kept the matter for 3.30 pm. But when the defence lawyers didn't turn up, the judge recorded that she would complain to the Bar Council about them.

The judge also spoke to the three accused--Dr Tanvir Ansari, Ehteshaam Siddiqui and Abdul Wahid Din Shaikh--who had not engaged a lawyer after their lawyer, Amin Solkar, withdrew from the case for personal reasons. Mohammed Sajid Ansari was also represented by Solkar.

Judge Bhatkar asked the three accused if they needed legal aid. Dr Ansari told the court that he had not employed anyone as his lawyer and at the moment did not want to accept legal aid. Shaikh and Siddiqui said they would speak to their relatives and decide. Both declined legal aid.

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