Special Court starts hearing arguments on awarding sentences

Coimbatore, Aug 16 (UNI) The Special Court, trying the sensational Coimbatore serial blasts case, today started hearing the arguments on awarding sentences in the case.

Of the 84 accused, who were on bail, 77 presented themselves before Judge K Uthirapathy.

The accused, who failed to turn up included Kerala-based PDP leader Abdul Nasser Maudhany.

However, the counsel appearing for Maudhany, filed a petition before the court, citing the reason for his absence.

Earlier, to Judge Uthirapathy's question whether they were arguing on their own or through their lawyers, the accused submitted that their lawyers would present their case before the judge.

Following this, the Judge completed the enquiry on 40 accused, of which majority of them pleaded for release as they had already completed imprisonment term for over nine years.

They also pleaded the Court not to impose fine on them as they had no money to pay.

UNI