The German Bakery blast in Pune had claimed 17 lives in 2010. (File Photo)
The Supreme Court today sought Maharashtra government's response on the bail plea by the lone convict in the 2010 Pune German Bakery blast that had claimed 17 lives and an appeal against his life sentence.
A bench comprising justices PC Ghose and Amitava Roy issued notice and sought response from the state government, which had earlier appealed against the High Court order that had commuted death penalty awarded to Mirza Himayat Baig to life term.
Baig, who was acquitted on March 17 of serious charges under various sections of the Unlawful Prevention (Activities) Act and IPC, was however convicted for offences under IPC section 474 (possessing a document knowing it to be forged with intent to use it as genuine) and under section 5(b) of the Explosive Substances Act.
Baig, alleged to be a member of banned terror outfit Indian Mujahideen, was arrested in September 2010 from Latur in Maharashtra for involvement in the blast at German Bakery, a popular eatery in Pune's Koregaon Park area, which killed 17 persons and injured 58 including some foreigners.
In 2013, the trial court had convicted and awarded him capital punishment.
Besides Baig, Qateel Siddiqui was also arrested in the case, but he had died in Pune's Yerawada jail following a scuffle with other inmates.
The other wanted accused are alleged Indian Mujahideen operatives -- Mohsin Choudhary, Riyaz Bhatkal, Iqbal Ismail Bhatkal, Fayyaz Kagzi and Sayyad Zabiuddin Ansari.
Yasin Bhatkal, who had allegedly planted the bomb in the eatery, was arrested in August 2013. The case against him is pending before the trial court.