Ahmedabad, July 02: The Gujarat government has designated the special Pota court of Sonia Gokani to conduct proceedings of cases in which the state government has invoked anti-terrorism law against the accused, court sources said here today. A senior advocate, however, said the decision on holding further proceedings of Haren Pandya murder case in which CBI had applied Pota against 12 persons, would be taken by the Central government.
As of now proceedings of this case is being conducted at the chief metropolitan magistrate's court.
Till now Gokani conducted proceedings of only Godhra train carnage case, first in the state where Pota was slapped on 126 accused persons, sources said.
Court sources said henceforth, the special Pota court would hold proceedings in the case of 29 accused who are facing charges of "conspiracy to foment large scale terrorist activities in Gujarat including assassination of top political leaders and industrialists, apparently to avenge post-Godhra communal riots in the city".
The 29 accused, arrested by city crime branch in various batches since April 4 also includes the five 'ISI agents' who are also allegedly involved in Pandya's killing.
The state government had slapped the anti-terrorism law on them on April 19.
Bureau Report