The 2014 Pune Blast Case: Plea Seeking Re-investigation to be Decided by Session Court
A recent development in the 2014 Pune blast case has brought renewed attention to the matter. The Bombay High Court has instructed the sessions court in Pune to decide on an application seeking re-investigation into the bomb blast that occurred near the Dagduseth Ganpati Temple on July 10, 2014.
The request for re-investigation was filed by advocate Tousif Shaikh, who believes that there are several loopholes and irregularities in the initial probe conducted by the Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS). Shaikh approached the sessions court in November 2017 to direct the ATS to re-examine the case thoroughly. However, his application has been pending for an extended period, prompting him to seek relief from the High Court.
Justice Sarang Kotwal, in response to Shaikh’s petition, has urged the sessions court to expedite its decision regarding the application. Granting the sessions court the authority to determine the application’s validity and the advocate’s standing to file it, Justice Kotwal emphasized the importance of prompt action. Considering that the said application is for seeking urgent relief and it is pending for inordinately long time, learned Special Judge is directed to decide said application at the earliest and as far as possible within a period of two months from today, stated Justice Kotwal.
The blast, which occurred at the Faraskhana police station, involved a motorcycle rigged with explosives. Initially, the case was investigated by the Vushrambaug police station before being transferred to the ATS. Subsequently, five individuals were identified as the accused: Aizazuddin alias Aizaz Mohammed Azizuddin, Aslam Ayub Khan, Mehboob alias Guddu Ismail Khan, Amzad Ramzan Khan, and Zakir Hussain alias Sadiq Badrul Hussain.
However, in April 2015, Aizazuddin and Aslam were killed in an encounter with the Telangana police. The remaining three individuals were arrested, along with an accomplice, in Rourkela, Odisha, in February 2016 after a shootout with the police. Shockingly, they managed to escape from the Bhopal jail on October 31, 2016, only to be killed hours later in another encounter.
Following these events, the ATS submitted an application to the Pune sessions court, seeking to terminate the trial against the five accused. The sessions judge approved this request. However, advocate Tousif Shaikh subsequently filed an application for re-investigation, alleging significant irregularities within the police’s case. As the sessions court failed to make a decision on this plea, Shaikh turned to the High Court for assistance.
The decision of the sessions court will play a crucial role in determining whether a fresh round of investigation into the 2014 Pune blast case can take place. With the High Court urging a prompt resolution and granting the sessions court the power to determine the application’s validity, all eyes are now on the upcoming verdict. The outcome will not only have implications for the case itself but also for the pursuit of justice and the closure sought by the victims and their families.
