German Bakery blast suspect Mirza Himayat Inayat Baigs lawyer on Friday asked the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) as to why it had not mentioned in the draft charges that part of the criminal conspiracy was hatched in Colombo in Sri Lanka,as it had said in the chargesheet. The draft charges were filed on March 1 and the chargesheet submitted on December 4. Commenting on this,special judge Usha Thakre asked the ATS whether it required prior sanction of the central government to prosecute Baig for that part (Colombo conspiracy),as required under Section 188 of the CrPC. As per the ATS chargesheet,Baig had gone to Colombo in March 2008 to discuss with Fayyaz Kagzi and Sayyad Zabiuddin Ansari,two of the other six accused and there the diabolic design to cause further terrorist activities was finalised. Baig was allegedly trained by the duo to build an explosive device and explode it. They are also suspected to have given him money for explosive devices and for travelling expenses of Muslim youth indoctrinated for terror training. The defence lawyer on Friday put forward his say on the draft charges submitted on March 1. Rehman stated that the conspiracy in Colombo was not mentioned in the draft charges. In reply,special public prosecutor Raja Thakare told the court that the conspiracy was partly hatched in Colombo,but was executed within the boundaries of India. The chargesheet had stated that stamps of Chennai and Colombo airports were found on Baigs passport,carrying number F5993196,which they had seized. Rehman also took up the issue of forgery cases against Baig. As the offence had allegedly been committed in Beed and Udgir and much before March 2008,when the hatching of conspiracy is said to have begun.the case is out of the jurisdiction of the special court, he said. According to ATS,Baig forged a caste certificate in 1995,a 2003 ration card in his fathers name,a 2002 residential certificate from Beed. Blank forms were allegedly recovered from Baigs house in Udgir. Rehman said,The prosecution is attempting to prejudice the court. Why are two different cases,one of forgery and that of German Bakery blast being brought together? Forgery sections were incorporated for the first time in the ATS chargesheet. Rehman requested the court to delete them. On April 5,the next date of hearing,the prosecution will submit its say.
