RTI has been my lifeline: 7/11 accused

Mumbai Mirror: Mumbai: Friday, May 10, 2013.

Ehtesham Siddiqui, a July 11, 2006 train blasts accused, told special MCOCA court on Thursday that Right to Information (RTI) Act has been his only support in his fight to prove his innocence.

In what could be his last chance to prove his claim that he has been wrongfully accused in the 7/11 serial blasts case, Siddique told the special court on the final day of his examination in chief that all the witnesses who had deposed against him were either police informers or the ones scared of the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).

Siddique is the first of the nine 7/11 accused who have sought to undergo examination in chief by the MCOCA court in a bid to prove their innocence.

The prosecution said that it will make a formal request to cross-examine Ehtesham for his allegations on Friday.

Accusing the ATS of influencing the witnesses, Siddique alleged that several witnesses identified him in the court only after an officer pointed him out. Giving the example of a witness who claimed to have seen Siddique at ameeting in Bandra prior to the blasts, Ehtesham said that he wasn't even in Mumbai at the time. "He identified me in court only after an ATS officer pointed me out," Ehtesham told the court of judge Y D Shinde. "In fact, this became a routine with other witnesses as well," Ehtesham said.

He added that another person cited as a witness against him in the case had also deposed as witness in the 2003 Gateway of India blast case. In both case, he had come forward after reading about them in the papers.

"I suspected that I would be pulled into in the case, when I was called to Mira Road Police Station after the blasts. I considered running away, but I didn't because I knew I was not involved in this case." Ehtesham's told the court.

Speaking to Mirror on Thursday, Siddique said that the RTI Act was his lifeline. "It gave me shot at unraveling ATS atrocities, and a chance to prove my innocence," he said.

Thirteen alleged Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) members were arrested after a series of seven train blasts hit the suburban railway killing 209 and injuring over 700. Earlier Indian Mujahideen (IM) had claimed responsibility for the blasts but three of its alleged members were discharged in 2009 due to lack of evidence.