HC approved center submission for VC deposition of NSG commandos

The Bombay High Court today approved a submission made by the Union Government that deposition of three National Security Guards (NSGs) in the 26/11 terror attacks case should be done through video-conferencing (VC).

A division bench, consisting of Justices J N Patel and Amjad Sayed, while approving the submission and passing an order on a plea moved by the Centre, challenging an order by the designated court handling the 26/11 case, to summon NSG commandos, directed the court to record the statements of the commandos in-camera.

The court also restrained the designated court, its defence and prosecution from asking queries related to secret skills of the commandos in tackling terror attacks.

The Bench in its order said the state has to obtain permission from the High Court before calling any other commandos except the three, who have already been summoned.

The government, in the guidelines, stated that the depositions of the commandos should be via video conferencing and their names should not be revealed to media.

Additional Solicitor General Darius Khambatta, who had appeared on behalf of the Centre, strongly opposed the designated court's order on the grounds that the deposition of the commandos may reveal certain facts which will be used by terrorist groups for other attacks. Designated Judge M L Tahilyani, who is conducting the trial, had summoned three NSG commandos -- Lt Col Rakesh Kumar Sharma, Major Ravindra Prakash and Captain Anil Jakhad, who were part of the team that stormed the Taj Mahal Palace, Hotel Oberoi Trident and Nariman House during the terror strikes, to testify regarding the operations carried out by them.

-- (UNI) -- 06BY19.xml

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