By IANS,
Mumbai : The Bombay High Court Thursday said it will Aug 12 begin the final hearing for the confirmation of the death penalty awarded to Pune’s German Bakery blast convict Himayat Mirza Baig.
The court will also take up an appeal filed by Baig last Monday challenging his conviction and death sentence, simultaneously from Monday, a division bench comprising Justice V. K. Tahilramani and Justice Mridula Bhatkar said here.
Baig was produced before the court Thursday in a tight security blanket thrown by the Mumbai police and the Quick Response Team.
The court will also take a decision whether Baig is required to be produced before it for all hearings or he can be produced via a video-conference from the jail premises.
Baig, along with five others accused – Indian Mujahiddeen operatives Yasin Bhatkal, Iqbal Bhatkal, Riyaz Bhatkal, Faiyaz Kagzi and Mohsin Chaudhari – were named as the prime accused in the Feb 13, 2010 German Bakery blast.
Seventeen people, including five foreigners, were killed and another 58 injured in Pune’s worst-ever terror attack on Valentine’s Day-eve.
The Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), which investigated the case, arrested Baig and showed all the five other accused as “absconders”.
In April this year, a Pune sessions court found Baig guilty under various charges and sentenced him to death. The verdict was subject to confirmation of the high court.