German Bakery blast: Bombay High Court seeks to know why NIA wants CCTV footage

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court today sought a proper explanation from the National Investigation Agency as to why they want the CCTV footage of the 2010 German Bakery blast in Pune.

A division bench of Justices V K Tahilramani and Mridula Bhatkar on hearing an application filed by NIA, seeking a direction to the state Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) to provide a copy of the CCTV footage from inside the German Bakery, a popular eatery in Pune's upmarket Koregaon Park.

On February 13, 2010 a bomb exploded inside the bakery killing 17 persons including five foreigners and injuring 58 others.

The NIA, which took over the blast case at a later stage, had made a similar request before the trial court, which was rejected. Following this, the agency approached the high court which is due to hear from August 5 the appeal filed by lone convict Himayat Mirza Baig.

The bench today asked the NIA to file an additional affidavit by August 5 explaining why they want the CCTV footage as the agency's application does not mention any specific reason.

According to the NIA, the footage obtained by ATS shows the bomb being planted inside the bakery by Yasin Bhatkal, alleged founder of terror outfit Indian Mujahideen.

In April this year, the sessions court in Pune awarded death penalty to Baig observing that it was a rarest of rare case.

Baig was convicted under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and Explosives Act.

According to the chargesheet filed by the ATS, five other accused - Fayyaz Kagzi, Yasin Bhatkal, Iqbal Bhatkal, Riyaz Bhatkal and Mohsin Chaudhari - are still absconding.