Mumbai, July 04: In a significant order, a special court today ordered CBI to conduct separate trial of 1993 bomb blast accused Majnu Mustaffa and not to club his case with that of the 122 accused, including film actor Sanjay Dutt. Designated judge P D Kode, however, allowed CBI to use the evidence already adduced against Majnu.
Hearing a CBI plea, the court ordered that Majnu's trial be separated from others with effect from July 7 and asked all the accused to remain present on that day for modification of the common charge of conspiracy. In view of the court's ruling, the charge of conspiracy will have to be modified so as to include Majnu as his name did not figure earlier. On July 7, charge of conspiracy will be framed against Majnu and modified in case of others.
The court held that Majnu's trial was being separated because his name did not figure either in the list of accused or absconding accused but in a confession of co-accused Salim Mira Shaikh. The judge opined that the accused may have allegedly participated in the conspiracy in 1993 but his identity was not disclosed and came to be known for the first time in 1995 when co-accused Salim was arrested.
Outside the court, prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told reporters that the verdict on Majnu's trial would have far reaching ramifications and evidence adduced against absconding accused including Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger Memon would be used against them as and when they are arrested. Bureau Report