Court lets off 8 accused in Ghatkopar case

The suspects were accused of allegiance to terrorist outfits Al Qaeda, the Jaish-e-Mohammed, the Lashkar-e-Toiba and the Students Islamic Movement of India. They were also accused of planning the killings to avenge the Gujarat riots.

Among the shortcomings noted by the court were shoddy investigation, dubious confessions, no witnesses while recovering crucial evidence (CDs with inflammatory material), doubts over the authenticity of the CDs, hostile witnesses — including the conductor of the bus — and failure of the prosecution to prove a conspiracy.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection) Dhananjay Kamlakar said that the Mumbai police were likely to appeal to the Bombay High Court.

When asked whether this was a setback, he said: ‘‘No, not at all.’’

But Solkar, the defence advocate, pointed out that the investigating officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ambadas Pote, had told the court that four of the six bombings were the result of one conspiracy.

‘‘In that case, all other cases should collapse,’’ declared Solkar. The eight men have been taken back to Thane jail and are likely to be freed on Monday after the release formalities.