ProMASS News Bureau, Mar 17, 2016:
The Bombay High Court today set aside Death Penalty of Mirza Himayat Baig, the lone convict in 2010 Pune German Bakery blast case and sentenced him life imprisonment. The High court convicted Baig for possessing explosive substance and forged documents pertaining to the case.
In 2013, the Sessions Court in Pune had convicted him in the case and awarded him the capital punishment. The High Court today pronounced its verdict on the confirmation petition of Maharashtra Government and the appeal filed by Baig, challenging his conviction and the death sentence.
Reading out the judgment, division bench of Justices N H Patil and S B Shukre today said that Baig has been acquitted of all charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), under sections 120(B) criminal conspiracy, 302 murders and 307 attempt to murder of the Indian Pinal Code, and under some sections of the Explosive Substances Act.
The court, however, confirmed Baig’s conviction and imposed life sentence on him under section 5(B) of the Explosive Substances Act, for possession of RDX. The court also confirmed his conviction under section 474 of IPC, for submitting forged documents while procuring mobile phone SIM cards.
Baig, an alleged member of the terrorist outfit Indian Mujahideen, was arrested in September 2010 for involvement in the blast at German Bakery, a popular eatery in Pune’s Koregaon Park area, which killed 17 persons and injured 58 including some foreign nationals.
