Navi Mumbai prison chief pulled up for non-compliance in 2011 serial blast case

The court asked him this after Nadeem Shaik, an accused who was conducting his trial as a party in person in the Mumbai triple blast case, was not physically produced in court in spite of many directions being given by the special judge.

In Short

• Nadeem Shaik not produced in court despite directions
• Mumbai court warns Taloja Prison for not obeying orders
• Mumbai triple blast case killed 21, injured over 140 in 2011

A special court in Mumbai on Thursday asked the superintendent of the Taloja Central Prison in Navi Mumbai to state as to why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him for not obeying court orders.

The court asked him this after Nadeem Shaik, an accused who was conducting his trial as a party in person in the Mumbai triple blast case, was not physically produced in court in spite of many directions being given by the special judge.

A total of 21 people died and over 140 were injured in three blasts, which took place in Mumbai's Zaveri Bazar, Opera House and Kabutar Khana, on July 13, 2011.

According to the police, Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal played an important role in procuring explosives and making Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) used in the blasts. In January 2012, Nadeem Shaikh, Naqi Shaikh, Kanwarnain Pathreja and Haroon Rasheed Naik were arrested in the case.

A total of 11 accused were arrested in connection with the case, one of whom died while waiting for completion of trial. Others, including Yasin Bhatkal, are lodged in the Tihar Jail, while some are in a prison in Bengaluru.

The accused stationed outside Maharashtra were also not produced through video conferencing. The court is currently recording testimony of the witnesses in the case. The prosecution has so far examined 123 witnesses in the case.

"The Superintendent, Central Prison, Taloja has already been instructed and directed time and again to produce (Nadeem) Shaikh physically before this Court as he is conducting this case as a party in person. However, the Superintendent, Central Prison, Taloja is not obeying the directions issued by this Court," special Judge BD Shelke said.

The judge had thus directed the prison authorities to produce Shaikh physically before this court on each given date without fail. Further, the Prison Superintendent was also directed to file his reply as to why a contempt proceeding should not be initiated against him for not obeying the directions issued by the court from time to time.

"He shall file his reply within one week, failing which contempt proceeding initiated against him. An authenticated copy of this order will be sent to Superintendent, Central Prison, Taloja," the judge added.