Owaisi blames Modi government, NIA for 2007 blast acquittals
What's the story
Yesterday, all accused in the Mecca Masjid blast of 2007, including Swami Aseemanand, were acquitted by a Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court in Hyderabad.
Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi subsequently blamed the NIA for the acquittal of five accused in the case. He said they had deliberately failed to produce evidence against the accused.
Here's more on what he said.
Background
What is the Mecca Masjid blast case?
On May 18, 2007, eight persons were killed and 58 injured in a powerful explosion at Hyderabad's Mecca Masjid.
Ten persons allegedly associated to right-wing organization "Abhinav Bharat" were named as accused, but only five of them were arrested and faced trial.
The court cited lack of evidence for the acquittal, saying investigators were unable to prove anyone's guilt.
Owaisi
What does Owaisi have to say?
Owaisi, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen's President, said NIA had undertaken "malicious and biased prosecution." He said, "When the accused got bail, the NIA didn't appeal seeking cancellation of bail within the mandatory period of 90 days."
He added that many witnesses had turned hostile after 2014, when BJP came to power.
Questioning the criminal justice system, he said this was the Modi government's failure.