Court rejects Mumbai police plea; Jundal to stay in Delhi

A Delhi court on Wednesday refused to grant to Mumbai Police the custody of alleged 26/11 terror attack handler Abu Jundal, who is currently being interrogated by Special Cell of Delhi Police.

"Since the investigation of the Special Cell of Delhi Police with which the custody of the accused is in full swing, it would not be appropriate for this court to cut short his (Jundal) police custody and handover his custody to Mumbai Police," Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Vinod Yadav said.

Immediately after the plea was denied, Mumbai Police moved a fresh application in the court for the custody of Jundal, which has been fixed for hearing on July 5.

Delhi Police had opposed the application of its counterpart from Mumbai, saying that Jundal was in their custody till July 5 and the probe in the case was in progress and as such for the present, the custody cannot be handed over to Mumbai Police.

Mumbai Police had on Tuesday approached the court for Jundal's custody in connection with various cases of murder, attempt to murder and other offences under the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act, which are being probed by it.

The Mumbai Police application was accompanied by a request letter issued by a Mumbai court for producing 30-year-old Jundal before it.

Jundal alias Abu Hamza alias Sayyed Zabiuddin was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police from the Indira Gandhi International Airport and was produced before the CMM's court on June 21.

He has been booked under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Explosive Substances Act, the Passport Act and various sections of the IPC.