Bengaluru blasts case: Karnataka wants new evidence to be considered, SC stays final hearing

New Delhi: In an important development to the 2008 Bengaluru Serial Blasts case, the Supreme Court has stayed the final hearing. The stay comes on the back of the Karnataka state government’s contention that the trial court should be directed to consider new evidence in the case.

The Karnataka High Court earlier had dismissed a plea over the same matter and that’s why the state government approached the Supreme Court.  The demand is that new evidence, including call recordings, should be considered.

The Supreme Court allowed the contention and stayed the final hearing that was around the corner. The apex court has issued notice to 21 accused, including Keralites Abdul Nasser Madani and Thadiyantavida Nazeer.

Meanwhile, the accused’s counsel argued that new evidence cannot be considered as the trial is almost completed. If there were evidence then it should have been produced to the court while submitting the chargesheet, the counsel said. Similarly, if new evidence is to be considered, then witnesses should be testified again and that will further stretch the trial, the counsel contended.