German Bakery blast convict moves high court for fresh probe

Alleged Indian Mujahiddeen operative Himayat Baig, sentenced to death after convicted for the blast in Pune's German Bakery, Monday challenged his conviction and demanded fresh investigation into the case, his lawyer said.

"Baig has filed an application before the Bombay High Court challenging the application of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on him by the (Maharashtra Police) Anti-Terrorism Squad. Since the UAPA has been applied illegally, the trial was also illegal," Baig's lawyer Mehmood Pracha told IANS.

Baig has sought a full re-investigation into the Feb 13, 2010 blast that left 17 people including foreigners dead and a retrial.

A division bench of Justice V. K. Tahilramani and Justice Mridula Bhatkar posted the matter for further hearing Aug 8, Pracha said.

The Valentine's Day-eve blast in the popular restaurant in Pune's upmarket Koregaon Park also left 58 others injured.

The case was first investigated by the ATS and the National Investigation Agency later took over the probe.

On April 18, a Pune sessions court found Baig guilty and sentence him to death after finding him guilty under various sections of Indian Penal Code, UAPA and Explosives Act.

However, five others accused in the case - Yasin Bhatkal, Iqbal Bhatkal, Riyaz Bhatkal, Faiyaz Kagzi and Mohsin Chaudhary - are still absconding.