By Abdul Hameed, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai : Taking an apparently preventive measure to check contradictory reports being published or aired the special MCOCA court on Saturday barred the media from publishing anything about the pending proceedings of July 11, 2006 Mumbai serial train blasts case. Any violation of the order may attract imprisonment up to three years and a fine.
The special judge Y D Shinde passed the order on an application made by the special public prosecution Raja Thakre under section 44 (3) d of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) requesting to prohibit media from publishing anything that will affect the investigation. The UAPA section states that the court may decide that it is in public interest that all or any of the proceedings pending before such a court shall not be published in a manner.
Notably, the Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) had yesterday produced the alleged founder member of Indian Mujahideen (IM) Sadiq Shaikh before the court seeking extension in his judicial custody till April 3. Shaikh told something apparently adverse to the investigation while the proceedings were on.
Thakre then reportedly argued that investigation was at a crucial stage adding that recently two newspapers had published contradictory reports about the probe and that the electronic media too aired the recordings of Shaikh’s interrogation by the Gujarat police. The English daily DNA reported that the confessions of Shaikh before the Gujarat police are contrary to their 11/7 charge sheet filed in court.
It is to be noted that Mumbai crime branch police had arrested 21 IM members in connection with the July 11, 2006 local train blasts that exploded at various places in the city killing at least 187 persons. Their trial is being conducted by special MCOCA judge Shinde.