MCOCA court extends JC of 7/11 accused till Feb 1

Mumbai, Jan 20: The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court today extended the judicial custody of all the thirteen persons arrested in connection with the 7/11 serial train blasts till February two.

Meanwhile, defence counsels moved an application before the court, presided over by MCOCA judge Mrudulla Bhatkar, alleging that some of the recent newspaper reports tarnish the image of the accused and could influence the court as well as the witnesses. They implored the Court to restrain the media from publishing wrong information, which they alleged had been planted by the Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS).

The Judge observed that the Court acts only on the evidence placed before it and not on newspaper reports. She however, directed the public prosecutor to file their reply, which will also be heard on February two.

It may be recalled here that the ATS of the Mumbai police on November 30 had filed their voluminous charge-sheet in this case that was running into 10,667 pages.

The accused included Kamal Ahamed Ansari, Dr Tanvir Ahmed Ansari, Mohd Faisal Shaikh, Ehtesham Siddiqui, Mohammad Majid Shafi, Shaikh alam Shaikh, Mohd Sajid Ansari, Abdul Wahid Shaikh,Muzzammil Shaikh, Soheil Mehmood Shaikh, Zamir Ahmad Shaikh, Naveed Hussain Khan and Asif Khan Junaid.

UNI