Mumbai: The special Indian court is currently trying key plotter Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal for his alleged role in the Mumbai terror attacks of November 2008.
Earlier in the day, before David Headley’s deposition, Jundal told the court that he was withdrawing his lawyer and sought 15 days’ time for appointing a new one.
He also told the court that his name is Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari and not Abu Jundal and sought deletion of his alias from the court records.
Senior Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam strongly objected to Jundal’s submission and said that it amounted to “delaying tactics”.
Jundal was too produced before the court via video link from the high security Arthur Road jail in Mumbai.
Later he told his lawyer Ishrat Khan that the charges laid against him are not applicable as his lawyer was not present during the arguments then.
“No arguments had taken place during framing of charges, and I had told my earlier lawyer to challenge it in the Bombay High Court,” he told Khan.
Jundal also said he has already approached the Principal Judge of the sessions court seeking transfer of case to another judge and that the application was pending.
It is evident, the police had said, that Headley had committed the offences of conspiring with LeT for committing illegal acts in India; waging war against the government of India and offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
He has also been accused of intentionally aiding and abetting the LeT in Pakistan for committing illegal acts in Mumbai, mischief by fire with intent to destroy Hotel Taj, Oberoi and Nariman House, offences under Explosives Act and Explosives Substances Act as also under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
A native of Beed district of Maharashtra, Jundal was interrogated after he was brought to Mumbai from Delhi where he had been arrested following his deportation from Saudi Arabia in June 2012.
According to Jundal’s confession, LeT training camps enjoyed full support from local, federal police and paramilitary organisations in Pakistan.
As per the 26/11 charges, after fleeing Maharashtra, Jundal entered Bangladesh in May 2006, where he was received by an ISI agent. He then used a boarding pass issued in a fictitious name to fly PIA flight to Pakistan.
In Maharashtra, Jundal is also accused of involvement in Aurangabad arms haul case, 2010 German Bakery blast case in Pune, and Nashik police academy attack conspiracy case.
