2 weeks Ago By Asseem Shaikh
Pune: Nashik central prison on Friday released Mirza Himayat Baig , the lone convict in 2010 German Bakery blast in city, on a 45-day parole . Baig was released 14 days after the Nashik divisional commissioner granted him parole on Sept 6. His release was held up as he had to fulfil parole conditions.
On Sept 3, Bombay high court , while setting aside the divisional commissioner's communication of July 31 rejecting Baig's parole application, criticised the latter for not considering its judgment acquitting Baig of terrorism charges in 2016. The court then gave a week's time to the divisional commissioner to decide on Baig's parole application. Nashik prison superintendent Aruna Mukutrao told TOI on Friday, "Baig's brother, Tariq, completed the parole formalities, including furnishing of two sureties, a cash security of Rs 15,000 and giving names, addresses and contact details of sureties following which he was released.
Another condition mandates Baig to report daily to the Shivajinagar police station, which is nearest to his home in Beed." "The parole order excludes travelling time from jail to Beed and vice-versa. Baig will have to return to jail to serve the remainder of his life sentence after completion of 45 days," Mukutrao added.
Baig's brother, Tariq, told TOI, "Our mother is suffering from various ailments and is bedridden for the last 10 years. After we approached the high court, the divisional commissioner granted parole to Baig so that he can take care of his mother. This is the first time that Mirza has been released on parole ever since his arrest by the state anti-terrorism squad (ATS) on Sept 7, 2010.
" Officials from ATS, Pune unit, told TOI that they have asked their counterparts from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to monitor Baig's activities during the period of his parole. Seventeen people were killed and 64 injured after a powerful blast ripped through the iconic German Bakery at Koregaon Park in Pune in February 2010. A special court in Pune had convicted Baig in 2013 for offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Indian Penal Code and Explosives Substances Act, among others, and sentenced him to death.
Bombay high court in 2016 commuted Baig's death sentence to life imprisonment while acquitting him of terrorism, murder, attempted murder and other charges but retained his conviction for fraudulent use of forged document or electronic record and for offence under the Explosives Act. On April 11 this year, Baig filed an application seeking 45-day parole on the grounds that his mother was critically ill and counting her last breath on bed. 25 witnesses examined so far in ongoing trial against main accused Yasin Bhatkal The state prosecution has examined 25 witnesses in the ongoing trial against Yasin Bhatkar, the co-founder of banned terror outfit Indian Mujahideen and main accused in the German Bakery blast case.
Special public prosecutor Ujjwala Pawar told TOI, the case is pending for recording of evidence of the remaining 45 witnesses before the special UAPA court in Pune. Bhatkal is the second accused arrested in the blast case. He will be produced before the court via video conferencing mode from Tihar jail in Delhi on Oct 5.
The Pune district legal services authority has appointed a lawyer to represent Baig in the blast case. Graphics - German bakery blast convict Mirza Himayat Baig filed an application for seeking 45-day parole on Apr 11 as his mother is bedridden - Nashik divisional commissioner rejected Baig's parole application on July 31 - Bombay High Court quashed and set aside divisional commissioner's order on Sept 3 - On a criminal writ petition filed by Baig, the high court directed the divisional commissioner to reconsider his parole leave within a week - On Sept 6, the divisional commissioner granted parole for 45 days to Baig - Baig was released from Nashik jail after fulfilling parole conditions.
