Mecca Masjid blast: CBI chargesheets 2 accused

HYDERABAD: Three years after a blast at Mecca Masjid claimed nine lives here, the CBI today filed a charge sheet against Devendra Gupta and Lokesh Sharma, who are also accused in the Ajmer blast case.

The probe agency filed the charge sheet running into 80 pages against Gupta, allegedly linked to right-wing group Abhinav Bharat, and Sharma in the XIV Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Court here.

The bomb explosion inside the Masjid during Friday prayers on May 18, 2007 here had claimed nine lives while five persons were killed in police firing during clashes that erupted after the blast.

The CBI, which registered a case in June 2007 under various sections of IPC and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act in the blast case, has so far named six persons as accused.

CBI brought Gupta and Sharma, who were also named as accused in 2007 Ajmer blast, to Hyderabad on June 17 as part of its probe. The duo are presently in judicial remand here.

The prime accused in the case Sandeep Sange and Ramchandra Kalsangra alias Ramji, are still absconding while another accused Swami Asimanand is being interrogated by the central agency. One more accused Sunil Joshi was killed by three gunmen in 2007.