26/11 suspect Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal, deported from Saudi Arabia in 2012, is still an undertrial. The Beed resident is suspected to have been a handler of the 10 Pakistani terrorists. In 2016, a special trial court convicted 12 persons, including Jundal, and sentenced them to life in the Aurangabad arms haul case.
In the 26/11 case, a supplementary chargesheet was filed against Jundal in Oct 2012. It said Jundal trained the terrorists to contact Indian electronic media and mislead them. Special court judge GA Sanap had in Nov 2015 framed charges against him. He pleaded not guilty. Trial commenced with witnesses deposing but was stayed by Bombay high court in 2018.
Delhi police had moved HC to challenge the trial court’s order directing them to produce “sensitive documents” related to Jundal’s travels. He had claimed he was taken into custody from Dammam, Saudi Arabia, and brought to India. But the Delhi police case is Ansari was arrested outside the airport when he was entering the country.
Last year, the trial court granted permission to police to question Jundal, to help establish the identity of another key absconding accused. He is presently in Taloja Central Jail. —Rebecca Samervel