The accused in the October 16, 2009 Margao bomb blast will now be charged with waging war against the government of India. On July 14 principal sessions judge U V Bakre ordered that charges be framed against the four accused, alleged sadhaks (seekers) of Santan Sanstha, under Section 121 (waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war against the government of India) of the Indian Penal Code. Earlier NIA had charged them under Section 121A (conspiracy to wage war) of the code. Section 121 is punishable by death or life imprisonment. The National investigation agency (NIA) had filed a chargesheet against the accused – Dhananjay Ashtekar, Dilip Mangaonkar, Vinayak Patil and Vinay Talekar – under section 121 A of the IPC for conspiracy or attempt or abetting to wage war against India including other sections. After considering the prosecution’s evidence, the court ordered framing of charges under Section 121 of IPC including Sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 15 (terrorist act) and 18 (conspiracy to commit terrorist act) of the Unlawful Activities Act and Sections 3 (causing explosion likely to endanger life or property) and 4 (attempt to cause explosion) of the Explosive Substance Act. The charges in the case are likely to be framed on July 27. The sessions court also rejected the bail plea of Mangaonkar, Patil and Talekar and observed that prima facie the act of the accused can be termed as terror.
MARGAO BLAST ACCUSED FACE WAR CHARGE UNDER SECTION 121
MARGAO BLAST ACCUSED FACE WAR CHARGE UNDER SECTION 121