2007 Mecca Masjid blasts: All accused acquitted

A special NIA court in Hyderabad on Monday acquitted all the accused in the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case in which nine people were killed.

The court cited lack of evidence while pronouncing the acquittal of the accused.

Ten people allegedly belonging to right-wing organisations were named as accused in the case.

However, only five of them — Devendra Gupta, Lokesh Sharma, Swami Aseemanand alias Naba Kumar Sarkar, Bharat Mohanlal Rateshwar alias Bharat Bhai and Rajendra Chowdhary — were arrested and faced trial in the case.

Two other accused — Sandeep V Dange and Ramchandra Kalsangra — are absconding while another accused Sunil Joshi died. Investigations were continuing against two other accused.

The fourth additional metropolitan sessions and special court for NIA cases had concluded the trial last week and posted the case for judgment on April 16.

The blast at the historic Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad on May 18, 2007 during Friday prayers had killed 9 people and left 58 injured.

After initial investigation by the local police, the case was transferred to the Central Bureau Of Investigation (CBI), which filed a charge sheet

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the case from the CBI in 2011.

A total of 226 witnesses were examined during the trial and as many as 411 documents were exhibited.

Swami Aseemanand and Bharat Mohanlal Rateshwar are out on bail while three others are lodged in the central prison in Hyderabad.

Copyright: The Statesman/ANN