Faheem seeks transfer to Rampur jail

Faheem Ansari, acquitted in the 26/11 terror attack case and currently lodged in Arthur Road jail in Mumbai, will be moving a Uttar Pradesh court seeking his transfer to a jail there in connection with a case registered against him in Rampur.

"It has been three weeks since special Judge M L Tahaliyani acquitted Faheem and another accused Sabauddin Ahmed in the 26/11 terror attack case. But till now they have not been shifted from the Arthur Road jail to Rampur," his lawyer Khalid Mohammad said.

Faheem on Tuesday approached Judge M L Tahaliyani, who is presently the Principal Judge of the sessions court, seeking a court direction to Arthur Road jail authorities to transfer him as also Sabauddin, to Rampur jail.

Judge Tahaliyani, however, directed him to file a application before the Rampur court saying he did not have the powers to pass an order in the case anymore. Both Faheem and Sabauddin are facing trial in UP in connection with the attack on the CRPF camp in Rampur on December 31, 2007.

Special Judge Tahaliyani on May 3 after acquitting the duo, had issued direction to set them free unless they faced other trials.

"We want the Rampur case to start soon so that his (Faheem) innocence is proved there too," Faheem's wife Yasmeen said. Arthur Road jail superintendent Rajendra Dhamne said, Faheem and Sabauddin would be shifted only when UP police send their guards here.

Faheem and Sabauddin were accused of conducting a recce of Mumbai and preparing a detailed map, which was then allegedly sent to terror outfit Lashkar-e-Tayiba operatives in Pakistan.

According to the prosecution, the map was in turn used by the ten terrorists who had attacked the metropolis on November 26, 2008. Lone surviving gunman Ajmal Kasab was recently sentenced to death for murder, conspiracy and waging war against the nation, in the 26/11 case.