MUMBAI: The Crime Branch of the Mumbai police armed with strong evidence after comprehensive investigations, is all set to present the charge sheet against the lone surviving terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Qasab, involved in the Mumbai terror attacks last November, in the Special Court here this week, according to police sources.
The trial would be conducted inside the high-security Arthur Road Prison at Saat-Raasta near Mahalaxmi Railway Station here — where the trial of the March 12, 1993, serial blasts was also conducted — and in all probabilities, the trial of Qasab would be held in-camera. Around a dozen persons would be shown wanted in the charge sheet.
The charge sheet and the annexure are expected to run into several thousands of pages, given the sensitive nature of the case and the evidence that the Mumbai police have collected since the Lashkar-e-Taiba-sponsored attack that killed nearly 179 people and left more than 300 others injured.
According to Crime Branch sources, the charge sheet would be filed later this week. The evidence include the statement given by Qasab about the training they received, terror plan and the modus operandi that was used to launch the attacks by infiltrating from the sea route.
Meanwhile, ruling out a joint probe into the Mumbai carnage, India yesterday promised to respond to Pakistan’s queries related to the attacks but made it clear that the exchange of information can only take place through official channels.
“Whatever information we get from Pakistan, we will respond to it. But information must be made available through official channels and not through the media,” External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters in New Delhi.
India is ready to cooperate with Pakistan “as and when it is necessary” in its investigation into the Mumbai attacks, Mukherjee said while referring to the material provided to Islamabad about Pakistani linkages to the Mumbai terror attacks.
— With input from agencies
