Samjhauta blast accused sent in judicial custody

A local court remanded Samjhauta case accused Lokesh Sharma in judicial custody till July 1.

A local court on Saturday remanded Samjhauta case accused Lokesh Sharma in judicial custody till July 1. He was produced before the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Kanchan Mahi,who remanded him in judicial custody.

Sharma,a resident of Mhow,was produced before the court by the National Investigation Agency.

On February 18,2007,a day ahead of Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuris three-day official visit,just before the midnight,two bombs had exploded in New Delhi-Wagah Samjahuta Express killing 67 people,mostly Paksitanis,and injuring 50.

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Sharma was arrested on June 17,2010,and was also an accused in the Ajmer Sheriff blast case,which took place on October 11,2007.

Sharma was also chargesheeted by NIA for Mecca Masjid blast in Hyderabad,which took place on May 18,2007,during Friday prayers.

Sharmas lawyer Manbir Singh Rathi complained during the hearing that his client was brought in handcuffs without the courts permission. The judge also objected to it.

NIA further informed the court that it wanted to submit chargesheet in the Samjhauta case on June 20.

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The court also allowed NIA to produce the other accused Swami Aseemanand through video conferencing on Monday. The court is likely to declare Ramchander Kalsangre,Sandeep Dange and Ashwini Chauhan as proclaimed offenders on Monday.

Earlier,non-bailable warrants had been issued against them by the court. NIA has announced a award of Rs 10 lakh each on Kalsangre and Dange and Rs 2 lakh on Chauhan for information leading to their arrests.