MCOCA judge seeks clarification on pending POTA cases

Mumbai, June 8 (UNI) Newly appointed Maharashtra Control for Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) Judge Mridula Bhatkar has written a letter to City Civil and Sessions Court Principal Judge R R Wachha seeking clarification pertaining to conduct of trial of two partly heard POTA cases by outgoing Judge Ashok Bhangale.

Ms Bhatkar is notified to try MCOCA cases. Earlier, Judge Bhangale had presided over both MCOCA as well as POTA cases.

Mr Bhangale had partly heard two POTA cases mainly the 2003 Ghatkopar blast in which two people were killed and several others injured and twin blasts at Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar, which claimed 52 lives and 70 others injured.

The Mulund local train blast case was stayed as its application for transfer of cases from Mr Bhangale court, is still pending in the Supreme Court.

Ms Bhatkar resumed charge of the MCOCA court on Monday, after the summer vacation. She has started conduting trial of MCOCA cases, while the POTA cases are unheard as she has not received any notification in this regard.

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