Mumbai: The arguments over the quantum of sentence in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts, in which 188 people died and over 800 people were injured, will continue on Wednesday in a special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act or MCOCA court.
Last week, the special court convicted 12 of the 13 people allegedly belonging to the Students Islamic Movement of India or SIMI, while one was acquitted.
Four witnesses deposed before the court on Tuesday. This comes after the court allowed a plea by the defence to offer evidence on mitigating circumstances that the defence hopes will save the convicts from being awarded the death penalty.
Among the first to depose before the court was accused number 13, Asif Khan's brother Aziz. "He (Asif) studied engineering in the same college as me. He fulfilled his responsibilities as an elder brother. He was very helpful towards people in the locality. His children have been removed from school after he got arrested," Aziz Khan told the court.
"He is as innocent as the Malegaon Blasts case accused. People are scared to come to our home as they believe they too will be implicated in false cases. He cannot be involved in the blasts," Aziz added.
The second witness to depose was Dr Tanveer Ahmed Mohammed Ibrahim Ansari's brother, Istiar. "He had offers from big hospitals but he chose to work in a charitable institution. He was very helpful towards his patients who were mostly very poor."
Mohammed Majid Mohammed Shafi's wife Farzana told the court, "I know him since 2005 and he has a very soft nature. We have financial problems and I cannot undergo a kidney and an eye operation because of what has happened."
Nadeem Akhtar, who was arrested for the 2012 serial blasts in Mumbai also deposed to point out mitigating circumstances for Ehtesham Kutubuddin Siddiqui who has also been convicted in 2006 train blasts case. He spoke to the court on Siddiqui's good conduct in prison and the trauma he has faced after being housed in a high-security cell in solitary confinement.
Arguments on the quantum of sentence began on Monday after the 12 convicts recorded their statement.
Last week, the special court convicted 12 of the 13 people allegedly belonging to the Students Islamic Movement of India or SIMI, while one was acquitted.
Four witnesses deposed before the court on Tuesday. This comes after the court allowed a plea by the defence to offer evidence on mitigating circumstances that the defence hopes will save the convicts from being awarded the death penalty.
"He is as innocent as the Malegaon Blasts case accused. People are scared to come to our home as they believe they too will be implicated in false cases. He cannot be involved in the blasts," Aziz added.
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Mohammed Majid Mohammed Shafi's wife Farzana told the court, "I know him since 2005 and he has a very soft nature. We have financial problems and I cannot undergo a kidney and an eye operation because of what has happened."
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Arguments on the quantum of sentence began on Monday after the 12 convicts recorded their statement.
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