26/11 terror attacks: No progress in trial against Abu Jundal

Mumbai: There is no progress in the trial against Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks case after Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley was examined as witness by the prosecution.

A special MCOCA court in August this year has convicted and sentenced Jundal to life imprisonment for his involvement in the 2006 Aurangabad arms haul case.

According to Jundal’s lawyer Asif Naqvi, he has been kept in the same barrack where Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab had been kept. “When I met him in jail the last time, he asked me to prepare an appeal against his conviction in the Aurangabad arms haul case and also complained about solitary confinement,” said Mr Naqvi.

He also said that owing to Jundal’s constant complaint, the jail authorities have kept two old prisoners in the adjoining barrack.

According to sources, Jundal is kept in a barrack on the first floor and undertrials such as NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, former media baron Peter Mukerjea and NCP leader Ramesh Kadam are housed in barracks exactly below it.

Advocate Khan Abdul Wahab, who is defending Jundal in the 26/11 trial, confirmed that after examination of Headley as a witness, none had been examined till date. Though advocate Khan had made an application in the trial court seeking to recall Headley as a witness contending that he was not allowed to take instructions from Jundal and as a result he still had some questions for Headley, special judge G.A. Sanap rejected his application.

Though the next date of hearing in this case is fixed on December 6, no witness is expected to be examined in this case because the court is hearing final arguments in the 1993 serial bomb blasts case, which is at the fag end.