Hyderabad: Devender Gupta, the prime accused who was convicted on Wednesday in the 2007 Ajmer Dargah blasts case is also A-1 in the Macca Masjid blast case. Gupta is facing trial at the fourth MSJ court, designated as NIA court at Nampally.
Interestingly, Swami Aseemanand, who was acquitted in the Ajmer Dargah blast case is also facing trial in the Macca Masjid blast case. He is facing allegations of conspiracy to carry out counter attacks.
The Macca Masjid blast took place on May 18, 2007. The explosion killed nine people. So far, 165 witnesses have been examined in the case and another 125 are yet to appear. The trial started in 2014.
According to Anthony Reddy, the advocate for the accused in Macca Masjid blast case, there are "10 accused in Macca Masjid blast case".
"A chargesheet has been filed against eight accused, including one dead person, Sunil Joshi. Two individuals, Sandeep Danger and Ramchandra Kaslangara are currently absconding. The trial is on against five accused, including A1 Devender Gupta, Lokesh Sharma, Swami Aseemanand, Bharat Bhai and Rajendra Chaudhari. Devender Gupta stands accused of procuring SIM cards in both the Ajmer and Macca Masjid blasts,” the advocate said.
In the Ajmer blast case, Lokesh Sharma, Swami Aseemanand and Bharat Bahi were acquitted. Devendra Gupta, Bhavesh Patel and Sunil Joshi were convicted under various sections of the IPC, the Explosive Substances Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The blast left three pilgrims dead and 15 others injured. Joshi was murdered in the December of 2007.
