Mecca Masjid Blast Verdict: Judge Ravinder Reddy, Who Acquitted All 5 Accused, Resigns
The blast in Mecca Masjid was carried out on May 18, 2007. At least 9 were killed and 85 others were injured in the attack.
Hyderabad, April 16: Hours after the special NIA court on Monday acquitted all five accused in the Mecca Masjid blast case, the judge who presided over the order submitted his resignation.
Judge Ravinder Reddy, reports claimed, had earlier sought a ten-day leave. However, after issuing the verdict in the eleven-year-old blast case, he tendered his resignation. As of now, it could not be confirmed whether his decision to quit was linked to the court's ruling in the terror attack case.
The five accused who were acquitted today are Nabakumar Sarkar alias Swami Aseemanand, Devender Gupta, Lokesh Sharma, Bharat Mohanlal Rateshwar alias Bharat Bhai and Rajendra Choudhary -- all members of the right-wing group Abhinav Bharat.
Reacting to their acquittals, the BJP claimed the Congress' conspiracy of "Hindu terror" stands exposed. "The UPA government victimised our saints. They targeted people in the saffron robe and framed them under frivolous charges," said BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra.
Hyderabad MP and AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi blamed the "Centre-controlled" NIA of deliberately weakening the case against the accused, leading to their acquittal. "They speak of India first. Today, I want to ask whether those nine innocents killed in the blast and dozens others injured were Indians or not," he said.
"I am not questioning the judiciary. They were forced to acquit the accused because the prosecution failed to do its job. The case was presented in a completely diluted manner," Owaisi added.
The blast in Mecca Masjid was carried out on May 18, 2007. At least 9 were killed and 85 others were injured in the attack. In the police firing which followed to control the protesting mob outside the mosque, 5 more people were killed.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 16, 2018 07:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).