- News>
- States
HC reserves verdict on Umarji`s appeal against bail rejection
Ahmedabad, July 30: Gujarat High Court today reserved its verdict on an appeal by Maulana Hussain Umarji, prime accused in Godhra train carnage, challenging rejection of his bail by the special Pota court.
Ahmedabad, July 30: Gujarat High Court today reserved its verdict on an appeal by Maulana Hussain Umarji, prime accused in Godhra train carnage, challenging rejection of his bail by the special Pota court.
A division bench comprising Justice N G Nandi and R R Tripati completed hearing of both government pleader Arun Oza and Umarji's counsel Mahesh Bhatt and reserved its judgement without giving any specific date for it.
Countering defence counsel submission that Umarji was arrested merely on "hear-say" evidence, Oza argued that the evidence was totally "admissible" under provisions of the Indian Evidence Act.
He contended that there was prima facie case made against Umarji and letting him out on bail will be dangerous to the society when investigation was still on.
Advocate Mahesh Bhatt, appearing for Umarji alleged that the Pota court had rejected the bail plea merely relying on "hear-say" evidence of another accused Zabir Bin Yameen Behra, based on whose confessional statement the Maulvi was arrested on February 5. The defence counsel in his appeal said, "Behra in his confessional statement had said that Bilal Haji and Farouq Bhana had told him on February 26 that they had met Maulvi Saheb and he had allegedly told them to burn the S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express."
"Behra had no personal knowledge as to what Maulvi had told them", Bhatt said.
Umarji, a local religious leader and cleric in Godhra was arrested by special investigation team on February 5. The special Pota court on July 7 rejected his bail plea.
Bureau Report
Countering defence counsel submission that Umarji was arrested merely on "hear-say" evidence, Oza argued that the evidence was totally "admissible" under provisions of the Indian Evidence Act.
He contended that there was prima facie case made against Umarji and letting him out on bail will be dangerous to the society when investigation was still on.
Advocate Mahesh Bhatt, appearing for Umarji alleged that the Pota court had rejected the bail plea merely relying on "hear-say" evidence of another accused Zabir Bin Yameen Behra, based on whose confessional statement the Maulvi was arrested on February 5. The defence counsel in his appeal said, "Behra in his confessional statement had said that Bilal Haji and Farouq Bhana had told him on February 26 that they had met Maulvi Saheb and he had allegedly told them to burn the S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express."
"Behra had no personal knowledge as to what Maulvi had told them", Bhatt said.
Umarji, a local religious leader and cleric in Godhra was arrested by special investigation team on February 5. The special Pota court on July 7 rejected his bail plea.
Bureau Report