Special Court Threatens Contempt Proceedings Against Navi Mumbai Prison for Failing to Produce 2011 Blast Accused

Navi Mumbai, 21st September 2024: A special court in Mumbai on Thursday questioned the superintendent of Taloja Central Prison in Navi Mumbai, asking why contempt proceedings should not be initiated for failing to comply with court orders.

This inquiry followed repeated instances where Nadeem Shaikh, an accused in the 2011 Mumbai triple blast case who is representing himself in court, was not physically brought before the court despite numerous directions from the special judge. The blasts in Zaveri Bazar, Opera House, and Kabutar Khana on July 13, 2011, claimed 21 lives and left over 140 injured.

Police allege that Yasin Bhatkal, co-founder of Indian Mujahideen, played a key role in obtaining the explosives and making the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) used in the attacks. Nadeem Shaikh, along with Naqi Shaikh, Kanwarnain Pathreja, and Haroon Rasheed Naik, was arrested in January 2012 in connection with the blasts.

A total of 11 individuals were arrested in the case, with one accused passing away while awaiting trial. Others, including Bhatkal, remain incarcerated in various prisons, with some in Tihar Jail and others in Bengaluru. The accused outside Maharashtra have also not been presented in court via video conferencing.

The court has been hearing witness testimonies, with the prosecution having examined 123 witnesses so far. Special Judge BD Shelke expressed frustration over the failure to produce Shaikh, noting that the prison authorities had been repeatedly ordered to ensure his physical presence in court, as he is representing himself.

The judge has directed the prison authorities to bring Shaikh to court on each scheduled date without exception. Additionally, the Prison Superintendent has been asked to submit a response within a week explaining why contempt proceedings should not be pursued. If no response is filed, contempt proceedings will commence. An official copy of the order has been sent to the Taloja Prison Superintendent.