26/11 Mumbai terror attacks: State seeks trial against six Pakistani masterminds in absentia

The Maharashtra government on Friday urged a Mumbai court to prosecute six Pakistani masterminds behind the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in absentia (in their absence)..Additional sessions judge Satyanarayan Ramjivan Navandar adjourned the proceedings to September 17 after allowing authorities time to serve formal legal notices to the six Pakistani absconders through Interpol..

Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam submitted an interim report to the judge confirming that public proclamation orders have already been affixed at multiple prominent locations. He pointed out that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) acknowledged the State government's request on August 3 to execute the service of the order through Interpol.

“We have informed the Ministry of Home Affairs for taking necessary steps because, admittedly, the six terrorists are residing in Pakistan. We have requested the Ministry of Home Affairs to serve the proclamation order through Interpol. We have not yet received the report.

On August 3, they acknowledged our letter informing them to serve the said proclamation order through Interpol. Today we are in the position to contact them and then let you know tomorrow morning,” Nikam said. He sought time to complete the international notification process and apprise the bench of further developments.