Make Antulay,Rane witness in 26/11 case: Defence lawyer

“Both should be examined as witness to throw light on their statements,” Ejaz Naqvi,Sabauddin’s lawyer,said.

Judge M L Tahilyani told him that he was free to call them as defence witness during the trial.

Earlier,submitting arguments to oppose the proposed charges against Sabauddin,the lawyer said that his client had not gone to Kathmandu to meet co-accused Faheem as claimed by the prosecution. Both Faheem and Sabauddin met for the first time in Uttar Pradesh when they were in ATS custody.

He said the maps recovered from slain terrorist Ismail Khan shows Raj Bhavan,Chowpatty and Malabar hill locations. It was not clear how accused Mohammed Kasab and Ismail reached CST as the place is not indicated in the map,Naqvi argued.

Naqvi further argued that earlier police claimed to have recovered map from slain terrorist Ismail Khan on November 27 last year,but this was disclosed for the first time before the court in the remand application on January 23. Why was the map not placed before the court earlier? he asked.

Pleading for Sabauddin’s discharge,Naqvi said the prosecution had also failed to explain their claim as to how the maps allegedly made by Faheem were sent to Pakistan by Sabauddin. Besides,Kasab had not implicated Sabauddin in his confession,he said.

In another development,Sabuaddin withdrew his application which sought dismissal of police officers for alleged torture in custody and arrest of FBI sleuths Jeff and Mike for interrogating him in this case.

The court allowed advocate K B N Laam to appear along with Naqvi for accused Sabauddin.

Hearing plea of the accused,the court also directed Investigating officer to produce the belongings of Sabauddin on the next occasion as he has sought return of his property.

The court also granted time till May 2 to lawyer Saba Qureshi to submit arguments on behalf of accused Faheem Ansari on charges proposed by the prosecution against him.