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The five convicts in the Dilsukhnagar twin blasts case on Monday moved the Hyderabad High Court, challenging the death penalty that was awarded to them by a special NIA court, earlier this month.
According to reports, the convicted stated that the NIA had failed to establish that they were members of the Indian Mujahideen (IM), the banned terror outfit, even though one of the convicted was stated to be IM co-founder Yasin Bhatkal.
Close to four years after two bombs exploded in a crowded shopping area in Hyderabad, leaving 18 dead and several injured, an NIA special court on December 19, sentenced to death all five people convicted in the case.
One of the blasts took place at the bus stop and another took place near the A1 Mirchi Center, a popular snack stall in the area. The blasts were triggered by Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) tied to two bicyles that were placed in highly crowded areas for maximum impact.
Initially, the case was registered at the Saroornagar Police Station and was later transferred to the NIA.
All five were convicted under sections 302, 307, 324, 326, 121, 122, 201 read with 120B of the IPC, Sections 3 & 5 of The Explosives Substances Act and section 18, 19, 20, 38 (2), 39 (2) of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967.
However, accused number 1, Riyaz Bhatkal alias Mohammed Ismail Shahbandari (elder brother of Yasin Bhatkal) who is thought to be the key conspirator by the NIA, is still absconding.
During the course of the hearing, the NIA had submitted 201 pieces of evidence and produced 158 witnesses.
According to the NIA chargesheet, Riyaz had sent money to Asadullah Akhtar and Waqas through hawala channels who carried out the attack along with Tahseen Akhtar.
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