L. Narasimha Reddy, J.

On 18-05-2007, which is a Friday, prayers were being offered as usual, in Mecca Masjid, near Charminar, at Hyderabad. A blast took place around 1:25 p.m. Five persons died and many received injuries. Initially, the Station House Officer, Hussaini Alam Police Station registered Crime No.100/2007, alleging offences punishable under Sections 302, 307 and 120-B I.P.C and Sections 3 and 5 of Explosive and Substances Act against certain unknown persons. The same Police Station has registered crime No.107/2007 also in relation to the very incident.

Having regard to the gravity of the incident, the case was handed over for investigation, to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Thereupon, the CBI re-registered the case as R.C.No.5 (S)/2007, citing the same provisions of law. Charge-sheet was also filed by the CBI on 13-12-2010 against several accused, including Devendra Gupta alias Babby, alias Ramesh, and Lokesh Sharma alias Ajay Tiwari alias Ajay alias Kalu, accused Nos.3 and 4. No charge-sheet was filed against four more accused, viz., Sandeep V. Dange, Ramchandra Kalsangra, Sunil Joshi, Nabakumar Sarkar alias Asimanand. When the case was pending tria