Mumbai, June 11: An immigration officer today deposed as witness before a special court here to tender evidence regarding 1993 bomb blast accused Ejaz Pathan, who was deported from Dubai four months back. The officer, R R Sawant, posted at international airport, told designated judge P D Kode that Pathan had travelled to India by an Air-India flight without passport on February 19 and he was carrying an emergency certificate issued by the consul general of India in UAE.
The witness told CBI counsel A S Kulaye that he had also stamped an embarkation card filled in by Pathan. The officer identified the embarkation card in the court.
The witness said the emergency certificate issued by the consul general in UAE was impounded by him at the airport. On a CBI plea, three immigration officers have been summoned as witnesses to depose in the case.
On May 28, the court had rejected Pathan's plea to recall all the 684 witnesses on the ground that he had no legal right to summon them as he had been absconding for the last ten years when the evidence was being led by CBI.
Designated judge P D Kode, however, allowed CBI to recall witnesses who had recorded the statements of Pathan in their capacity as investigating officers. CBI has charged Pathan with participating in a meeting called by underworld don Dawood Ibrahim in Dubai prior to the bomb blasts on March 12, 1993.
The accused had conspired to bring arms and ammunition to India and then distribute them to commit terrorist acts in Mumbai and elsewhere, CBI said. Bureau Report