Yunus custodial death: Defence fined for seeking adjournment

Mumbai: On Tuesday, Dr Abdul Mateen was examined as a first witness in the 2002 Ghatkopar bomb blasts accused Syed Khwaja Yunus’ custodial death case. However, recording of evidence could not go on beyond a few questions as defence sought an adjournment. The court deferred the hearing but also imposed a fine of Rs 2,000 on the defence for seeking abrupt adjournment, which is payable to Dr Mateen.

Dr Mateen, co-accused in the case, was acquitted with all other accused facing trial. Former PSI Sachin Vaze and police constables Rajendra Tiwari, Rajaram Nikam and Sunil Desai are facing trial.

After stepping into the witness box on Tuesday, Dr Mateen, while answering questions asked by the special public prosecutor, said that he was picked up by the police on December 23, 2002, in connection with the Ghatkopar blasts case and produced before the court on December 27. Dr Mateen further told the court that he was again produced before the court for further remand on January 2, when three more persons were produced as accused along with him - Khwaja Yunus being one of those three.

Dr Mateen told the court that all the accused were assaulted and tortured in police custody. At this point, defence sought an adjournment saying that the case diary and a few other documents sought from prosecution had not been produced before the court and hence, hearing should be adjourned with direction to prosecution to produce the said documents.

Initially, judge R.G. Wankhade explained to defence that an application was needed in advance for adjournment on such grounds. However, the lawyer insisted that his senior lawyer was not present and hearing should be adjourned. Following this, the judge adjourned the hearing till June but imposed a fine of Rs 2,000 on defence, payable to the witness. The judge also made it clear that no further adjournment would be granted even if the said documents were produced as trial could go on even without those documents.