Ktk oppose Madani bail plea

Bangalore, Feb 10 (PTI) Karnataka today opposed grantingbail to PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani, an accused in the2008 serial bomb blasts that rocked the city, charging thatthe accused "masterminded" the explosions.

Opposing the bail application, state''s Advocate GeneralAshok Haranahally submitted in the High Court that the accusedhad links with members of terror groups includingLashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).

"It would not be safe to grant bail to such a person whois involved in terror activities as already most witnessesin the case are being threatened," Haranahally pleaded.

The accused appears to have masterminded the blasts as hewas not only involved in the conspiracy but was in constanttouch with other accused, some of who are alleged to beLeT members and was continuously monitoring what washappening, the prosecution argued.

"It just cannot be believed at that he was not involvedin the conspiracy. He was not only involved in it, heharboured the accused," Haranahally contended.

B V Acharya, Counsel for Madani, submitted that a personshould not be made accused in a case on the basis of his past.

Acharya rejected allegations made against Madani that hefounded Islamic Seva Sangha in 1991 and later disbanded it.

He also said the accused formed People''s Democratic Party(PDP) in 1993, which is now a recognised political party.

"There are no cases against the ISS or the PDP that itwas or it is indulging in unlawful activities. He cannot beaccused of an offence on that basis," he submitted.

Acharya further contended that the investigation had notbeen carried in a fair manner and it was "only a makebelieve theory to implicate Madani".

Requesting that Madani be granted bail, Acharya pleadedhe would abide by any condition imposed by the court.

Madani has sought bail on the grounds that there was noprima facie case against him.

Justice V Jagannathan sought certain clarifications onthe phone call records between the accused and the otheraccused and posted the case to tomorrow for further arguments.

The Bangalore blasts in July 2008 left one person deadand 20 others injured.

Madani, nabbed in Kerala on August 17, is lodged inBangalore Central Jail.

The PDP leader was also an accused in the 1998 Coimbatoreserial bomb blasts in which 58 people were killed, but wasacquitted by the trial court.