Samjhauta train bombing case accused accused Aseemanand denies knowing Kamal Chauhan

PANCHKULA (Haryana): Samjhauta train bombing case accused Aseemanand today denied knowing Kamal Chauhan, a disgruntled RSS worker arrested by the NIA recently in connection with the case.

"I don't know Kamal Chauhan," Assemanand told reporters outside the special NIA Court here.

Assemanand, who had earlier pleaded that he was not involved in the bombings, when asked if he knew Chauhan, claimed that he does not know who he is. "It's a conspiracy of the NIA," he alleged.

NIA's Special Prosecutor R K Handa said outside the court that the hearing in the Samjhauta case had been adjourned for March 7.

Handa said that as NIA's Special Judge Subhash Mehla was on leave, the Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge, Kanchan Mahi adjourned the case till the next date.

"Today, arguments on framing of charges against Aseemanand and another accused Lokesh Sharma were to take place, but now they will take place on the next hearing," Handa said.

After his arrest from Noida, Kamal Chauhan had on February 14 claimed that he had planted bombs on board Samjhauta Express in 2007 that left 68 people, mostly Pakistanis, dead.

Chauhan had made this statement before media persons as he was being taken out after in-camera proceedings in Panchkula court which granted NIA his custody till February 24 for questioning him on his alleged role in the blast in the Delhi-Lahore train.