Maharashtra Govt to file its reply in Suleman Bakery case on Mar 13

Mumbai, Mar 12 (UNI) The Maharashtra Government will file its reply in the Suleman Bakery police firing case on March 13, in response to a plea made by two accused persons, who are seeking the court's approval for their discharge from the case.

On January 18, the Bombay High Court while admitting the appeal of Ashfaque Ahmed and Noor-ul-hudda, challenged the Sessions court order passed on September two last year, which had dismissed their plea on the ground that the prima facie evidence was available against them.

Aggrieved with Additional Sessions Judge D D Joshi's order, the two then moved the Bombay High Court which, in turn, issued notice to the Maharashtra Government to file its reply.

The petitioners had earlier contended in the court that the Sessions Court order was needed to be set aside on the ground that the police had wrongly chargesheeted them.

On January 9, 1993, the Special Operations Squad headed by R D Tyagi, then joint commissioner of police (crime), had fired indiscriminately inside the Suleman bakery in south-central Bombay, killing nine persons who belonged to the minority community.

Later, the Special Task Force registered a case against Tyagi and others on a recommendation made by Justice B M Shrikrishna.

The court was told that the two FIRs were contradictory to each other, hence they should be ordered to be discharged from the case.

According to the appeal, the police had registered two offences pertaining in the case. One was registered against 78 persons, who had allegedly attacked the police party. The police had arrested eight accused persons in this case.

The court was also told that second FIR registered by the STF was against Tyagi and others for allegedly killing nine unarmed persons.

The Sessions Court had then discharged Tyagi and other police official from the case for lack of evidence.

It was submitted that the first FIR was lodged with an aim to justify the killing of nine unarmed persons.

High Court Judge R S Mohite will hear the arguments on Monday.

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