The Special Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA) court on Friday framed charges against Riyaz Siddiqui in the 1995 Pradeep Jain murder case. Siddiqui,who was allegedly part of the conspiracy,was chargesheeted in March this year. Jain,a city-based builder,was shot dead outside his Juhu bungalow on March 7,1995. According to the police,gangster Abu Salem had got Jain killed over a property dispute. Siddiqui,who is currently in jail for his alleged role in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts,as an undertrial,had earlier turned approver in the Pradeep Jain murder case,only to retract his statement,later,at the trial stage. Siddiqui was later made an accused in the case and is being separately tried for his role. According to the prosecution,Siddiqui was a part of the conspiracy. Siddiqui who had given a detailed statement to the police,had later denied his and gangster Abu Salems roles in the murder. The prosecution later declared him hostile. In the confession,which was retracted later,Riyaz had said he was present at the meeting called by Salem and underworld don Dawood Ibrahims brother Anees Ibrahim to hatch the conspiracy. The court is already trying Abu Salem,builder Virendra Jhamb and one Mehndi Hassan in the Jain murder case. The case against the trio is in the final arguments stage.
