Mulund blasts accused allowed to undergo psychological test

The special POTA court on Friday permitted Muzammil Ansari’s lawyer’s request for a psychological test of his client before pronouncing punishment in the Mulund blasts case. Accordingly, Muzammil was sent to J.J. Hospital for a mental test and statements of three defence witnesses were recorded, who were examined to show that Muzammil’s reformation had already begun and there was no need to award him death penalty. Muzammil has been convicted for planting bombs in 2002 and 2003 and could be awarded a death sentence.

Special judge P.R. Deshmukh allowed the defence lawyer’s application for Muzammil to undergo psychological and IQ assessment tests, and directed J.J. Hospital authorities to submit the report latest by Monday. The judge also recorded statements of Afroz Khan, an accused in the Aurangabad arms haul case; Uday Pathak, an accused in a murder case; and Muzammil’s brother, Imtiyaz Rahim. Statements of these persons were recorded as Muzammil’s lawyer is trying to show that his client’s reformation has already started and he should not be given capital punishment.

Imtiyaz, in his statement, claimed that Muzammil’s family was not aware of his arrest for quite a few days as they had not been informed about the same. He also said that whenever the family visited Muzammil in court or jail, they always felt he was innocent and would come out clean from all this. Imtiyaz said that Muzammil was very good in his studies and had secured a scholarship so his fees had been waived off. He added that owing to their father’s sickness, the family was facing financial problems when Muzammil contributed and also took care of his siblings’ education. Imtiyaz said his brother had become increasingly irritable and his behaviour had become unpredictable since the past two years. He also said Muzammil did not understand things the first time when told.

Afroz told the court that he had met Muzammil in Thane jail in 2008. At the time, he was suffering from tuberculosis and Muzammil took good care of him. Later in 2009, Afroz was shifted to Arthur Road jail and in 2014, Muzammil too was transferred there. Afroz said that Muzammil would help inmates in both jails and due to his efforts, many inmates agreed to study and take admission in the IGNOU centre in Arthur Road Jail. Afroz said Muzammil egged him on to appear for the Mahatma Gandhi Peace Exam and helped him to top it. Afroz informed the judge that Muzammil was kept in the Anda cell in Arthur Raod Jail where there was no sunlight or fresh air because of which, he had become depressed.

Uday too said that Muzammil would help a lot of co-prisoners and encourage them to take up education. He said it was Muzammil who advised him to pray and gave him a copy of the Hanuman Chalisa. However, Muzammil could not recognise him at first when he met him after his transfer to Arthur Road jail.