Prosecution given time to file objections in Madani case

Bangalore,Jan24 (PTI) Karnataka High Court today grantedtime till February eight for the prosecution to file itsobjections to the bail plea by PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani,an accused in the 2008 Bangalore serial blasts.

When the petition came up before Single Judge, Justice VJagannathan, Special Public Prosecutor H S Chandramoulisubmitted that the petition must be heard by the same judgewho heard Madani''s anticipatory bail plea in the High Court.

This was termed in "bad taste and against the rostersystem" by senior defence counsel B V Acharya, who saidsufficient time had already been granted to the prosecutionsince the filing of the bail petition on December 13.

Agreeing with the defence counsel that the bail plea neednot be heard by the same judge who heard the anticipatory bailapplication, the judge, however, granted time till February 8for the prosecution to file its objections and directed it tofurnish a copy of the objections to the defence counsel beforethe said date.

Madani has sought bail on the grounds that there is noprima facie case against him to implicate him in the blasts inJuly, 2008 that left one dead and 20 injured.

Madani was taken into custody from anorphanage-cum-madrassa in Anwarssery in Kerala on August 17and subsequently brought to Bangalore.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader is lodged inBangalore Central jail.

A local court committed the case for trial on Decemberthree.

Madani was also an accused in the 1998 Coimbatore serialblasts in which 58 people were killed. However, he wasacquitted by the trial court.