HC rejects petition seeking probe by retd judge in blast cases

The Bombay High Court today dismissed a petition alleging fabrication of evidence in three bomb blast cases and seeking a probe by an independent panel headed by a retired High Court judge.
The petition, filed by journalist Ashish Khaitan, was seeking probe in three cases - July 11, 2006 serial train blasts in Mumbai, Malegaon blasts in 2006 and German Bakery blast in 2010 in Pune.
A bench of Justice Abhay Oka said it was dismissing the petition because the cases were pending in appellate courts (High Court and Supreme Court) after the conclusion of trials and hence the matter was sub-judice.

The petition was opposed by Raja Thakre, Special Public Prosecutor, on the ground that the petition was frivolous and allegations against the investigation agencies were baseless.
The petition demanded that an inquiry by an independent committee should be instituted by the High Court under its supervision and the probe panel as well as the investigating agencies be told to submit reports periodically.