PUNE: On Tuesday, State ATS (anti terrorism squad), Pune unit filed draft charges against Mirza Himayat Baig who is alleged to be the mastermind in the German Bakery bomb blast before the special court here. The blast on February 13th, 2010 killed 17 and injured 64 people.

The charges were filed after special judge Usha Thakare acknowledged the forgery proof filed by the ATS in opposition to Baig under Section 173 (8) of the Code of Criminal Procedure Code.

The charges were filed against Baig under the sections 120 (b), 302, 307, 435, 153 (a) (b), 465, 467, 474 and 478 of the IPC (Indian Penal Code), 10 (a) (b), 13 (1), 13 (2), 16 (1) (a), 18 and 20 of the UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act), 2004 and amended 2008 and 3, 4 (a) (b) and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908. Baig (29) of Udgir in Beed district was produced before the court surrounding tight security.

Special Public Prosecutor Raja Thakare told before the court that four charges relating to 120 (b) (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder) of the IPC and 10 (penalty for being a member of unlawful activity) and 16 (punishment for terrorist act) of UAPA were liable to be punished with death sentence.

Mentioning a Supreme Court judgment, Thakare submitted that the ATS has filed key charges against Baig, like murder and attempt of murder. He explained that it has not summoned minor charges like causing severe hurt under section 326 of the IPC as the similar was covered under the major charges for the expediency of the court to value the evidence.

Thakare said that every conspirator does not know the role played by the other suspects, as in the immediate case Baig had assembled the bomb at Udgir. Baig came to Pune with absconding suspect Ahmed Siddibappa, but he (Baig) got down at Central Mall while Siddibappa had planted the bomb at the bakery, he added.

The judge has directed senior lawyer A Rehman on behalf of Baig to argue on the point of framing charges on March 18.

- Anuja Bagaitkar