Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad today raised questions on the functioning of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) after a court acquitted right-wing activist Swami Aseemanand and four others in the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case investigated by the central agency.
“It (acquittal) is happening in each case since the government was formed four years ago…people are losing faith in the agencies,” he told news channels.
Earlier, a National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in the state acquitted all five accused in the 2007 Makkah Masjid case. The accused in the Hyderabad’s Mecca Masjid blast case, including Swami Aseemanand, were acquitted due to lack of “clinching evidence.”
The Special National Investigative Agency (NIA) judge, who on Monday delivered the verdict in the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case, has resigned.
The fourth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge and Judge of NIA Court at Nampally Court Complex Ravinder Reddy, who earlier in the day acquitted five accused in the case, sent a letter to the Metropolitan Sessions Judge and Chief Justice of High Court stating that he was resigning on personal grounds.
Meanwhile, president of All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen Party (AIMIM) called the resignation “Intriguing”.
Judge who gave acquittal to all accused in Mecca Masjid Blast RESIGNS very intriguing and I am surprised with the Lordship decision
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) April 16, 2018
The fourth additional metropolitan sessions-cum-special court for NIA cases had concluded the trial and last week posted the case for judgment on April 16. The Makkah Masjid attack was allegedly carried out by a group of right-wing terrorists 11 years ago on May 18, 2007.
