German Bakery blast case: Baig remains impassive on conviction

Mirza Himayat Baig, who was convicted by a sessions court in the 2010 German Bakery blast case today, did not react when the court sought his reaction on the guilty verdict.
Baig did not respond when the Additional Sessions Judge N P Dhote asked him in Hindi if he has anything to say, after reading out various sections of IPC, Explosives Substances Act and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA)--which attract death penalty--under which he was held guilty for his role in the blast at the popular hangout on February 13 that left 17 people dead and 60 injured.
The judge told Baig in the packed court room that the prosecution charges against him were proved on the basis of the evidence submitted before the court.

The face of the frail-looking convict, however, remained impassive.
Defence counsel A Rehman then told the court that his client would need more time to make his plea and he would do so on April 18, the day fixed by the court for pronouncing the quantum of sentence.
Meanwhile, public prosecutor Raja Thakre who appeared for Maharashtra ATS, said he was satisfied with the verdict.
"I am satisfied that I could carry out my responsibility on the behalf of the state with successful conviction in the case", he said.
The defence counsel said that Baig would go in appeal against the judgement after the sentence is pronounced.