Court issues NBW against Delhi cop

Mumbai: A special court conducting the trial in 2008 Mumbai terror attacks case on Friday issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Manishi Chandra, ACP of special cell Delhi, for failing to appear before the court as a witness in connection with the 26/11 trial against Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal. The warrant was issued as the officer, who had arrested Jundal and had seized certain documents including his Pakistani passport, failed to appear before the court despite issuance of the summons. The court wants the witness to produce the original documents before the trial court so that identity of Jundal could be established.

Last month, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam had informed special judge G.A. Sanap that the additional sessions Judge-2, Patiala House court in New Delhi has refused prosecution’s application to hand over five documents to the investigation officer in the case. According to Mr Nikam, these documents are important to establish the identity of the accused.

Despite the issuance of the summons, Chandra did not appear before the court in Mumbai and informed the court that he could not appear because he was busy investigating a case.

The judge observed, “I am satisfied on perusal of record that the witness has avoided to attend this court without any sound reason.” The judge also said that Chandra has not only avoided the court but informed the officer of (Patiala) court that he would not be attending; hence the officer of the court has not attended the court and provided documents.

Evidence to be submitted

The officer is supposed to submit an original Pakistani passport in the name of Riyasat Ali Khushi Mohammad, having Jundal's photograph on it, a national identity card of government of Pakistan which was issued in the name of Riyasat Ali, bearing Jundal's photograph, a green coloured card with something written in Urdu bearing Jundal's photo, original seizure panchanama of documents seized from Jundal and his arrest memo dated June 21, 2012.