Aurangabad Arms case: Approver wants to be treated as accused

The special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court today rejected an application of an approver, arrested in the 2006 Aurangabad Arms Haul case, to withdraw his confession.
Accused Mustafa Sayyed's statement was recorded by a magistrate in December 2007 after he said that he wanted to become an approver (prosecution witness).
But in the latest application, he said he did not want to become approver, he should be treated as an accused, and charges should be framed against him.
He alleged that Maharashtra anti-terrorism squad (ATS) forced him to turn approver.
However the court rejected Sayyed's application and said it would first record his evidence, and then consider if he can be granted pardon as an approver or should be prosecuted.

ATS had arrested three persons and seized 30 kg RDX, 10 AK-47 assault rifles and 3,200 bullets on Chandwad-Manmad highway near Aurangabad on May 8, 2006 after chasing two vehicles. Alleged LeT operative and a key 26/11 attacks handler Abu Jundal is also an accused in the case.