NIA court rejects application of 5 LeT men' to plead guilty in illegal arms case

Mumbai: A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Monday rejected an application made by five accused seeking to plead guilty in connection with a case related to the recovery of illegal arms.

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in 2012 had arrested five persons from Nanded for allegedly having links with Pakistan-based banned organisation Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) and for possession of illegal firearms to eliminate some Hindu leaders and journalists to create unrest in the country. The court rejected their application, saying the crime is serious and there should be a proper trial.

Mohammed Muzammil, Mohammed Sadiq, Mohammed Iliyas, Mohammed Irfan and Mohammed Akram had made an application before a special NIA court seeking to plead guilty. They had contended that they had already spent more than the minimum possible sentence, in case they are convicted, and the case was going at very slow pace and hence all the accused had decided to plead guilty.

Following their decision to plead guilty, their lawyers, Khan Abdul Wahab and Sharif Shaikh, had withdrew from the case, saying accused were going against their advice so that the trial could end soon.

Special judge V.P. Avhad on Monday rejected the application of all the accused, saying the case was of very serious nature and the court would continue with the trial.

The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had arrested these five persons in 2012 and later the NIA took over the investigation.

The court has framed charges against them under various sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Arms Act and Indian Penal Code including criminal conspiracy.