Police allowed to continue interrogating Abu Jundal

After obtaining permission from the special court, a team of crime branch officers continued to interrogate the prime accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks case in judicial custody on Friday.

Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam had made an application before judge G.A. Sanap, requesting him to direct Arthur Road Jail authorities to allow crime branch officers to meet Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal as they wanted to show him photographs of some wanted accused for identification of those persons and also ask some questions.

Although Jundal’s lawyer had objected to this application, however, after hearing arguments the court granted police the permission.

Judge Sanap observed that the investigating officer had every right to make an enquiry with any person including the accused about the crime at any time. The judge further said that in this case the accused had been lodged in Arthur Road Jail and hence the investigating officer was seeking court’s permission to meet him.

“In my view, this prayer cannot be rejected,” observed the judge while allowing the prosecution’s application.

According to defence lawyer Tahwar Khan Pathan, who was present, during interrogation, the officers had already completed their interrogation and process of showing photographs.