Court declines Pathan's custody on health ground

Mumbai, Dec 12 (UNI) TADA court today declined to give custody of Ejaz Pathan, a convict in the 1993 serial bomb blast case, to the police on health grounds and adjourned the matter to December 21.

Crime branch of city police sought custody of Pathan for custodial interrogation in connection with the double murder of undertrial prisoners near the Sessions court in south Mumbai on October 16.

But designated judge Pramod Kode declined to accede the request, saying the convict is in hospital and posted the matter for hearing on December 21.

Police suspects the involvement of Pathan in the murder of Himanshu Chaudhury, 25, and Amjad Hussain Khan, 40 , who were gunned down in full public view in the afternoon opposite Jehangir Art Gallery at Kala Ghoda Circle, near the sessions court where their case was to be heard. The two, held under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), suffered fatal gunshot injuries and were declared dead on arrival in hospital.

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