Bombay HC accepts Ansari's petition challenging POTA court verdict

Mumbai, Aug 28(ANI): The Bombay High Court Friday admitted an appeal filed by suspected Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) member Ashrat Ansari challenging capital punishment awarded to him by a POTA (Prevention of Anti Terrorism Act) court.

The POTA court had sentenced Hanif Sayed Anees (46), his wife Fahmida (43) and Ashrat Ansari (32), for their role in implementing the plans of LeT.

They were also sentenced for creating terror in India through bomb attacks.

The 2003 bomb blast near Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazar and in a bus killed over 50 people.

The bench of the High Court comprising of Justice Bilal Nazki and Justice A R Joshi asked the Maharashtra government to produce Ansari and two other convicts Hanif Sayed and his wife Fahmida on the next hearing.

The bench fixed the next hearing after eight weeks.

Meanwhile, the POTA court has made a reference to the High Court to confirm the death penalty awarded to the three convicts.

The bench has also directed the Maharashtra Government to produce the case papers and the verdict of the POTA court before it. (ANI)