ATS files charge sheet against Pune blast suspect

Nine months after a powerful bomb exploded at the German Bakery in the posh Koregaon locality in Pune killing 17 people, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad on Saturday filed its chargesheet against the alleged mastermind of the attack Himayat Baig.

Assistant Public Prosecutor for ATS A V Ausekar told judicial magistrate Swarup Bose that the accused had committed heinous crimes against the state of India and in view of its magnitude, it was "essential to keep names and addresses of the co-conspirators and co-accused secret".

No details of the charge sheet, which ran into hundreds of pages, were made public. Baig, who is in judicial custody at present, was not produced in the court today.

"Thumping evidence has been collected so far to nail the accused. However, at the same time, it is essential to bear in mind that the co-conspirators and the co-accused are still at large and therefore considering the magnitude and seriousness of the offence and threat to the security of the witnesses in this case, their names and addresses should be kept secret," he submitted to the court.

Baig was arrested on September 7 in connection with the February 13 blast. He was initially remanded to police custody till September 20, which was further extended up to September 28 before he was sent to judicial custody.

The ATS has submitted that six more accused are absconding and further investigations are in progress under section 173 (8) of the CrPC.

The prosecution requested the judge to issue directions to ensure that the identity and addresses of the witnesses are not disclosed and take such measures as it deems fit for keeping them secret according to the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967.

The prosecution also urged the court to permit it to serve the truncated copies of the charge sheet and relevant papers to the accused.

Baig is charged under various IPC sections as well as provisions of the Explosives Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.