Wednesday, January 18 2006 14:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: In a new twist to twin blasts case of August 2003, two accused have urged a special court todischarge them on the basis of recommendations of the Central Review Committee set up under POTA but prosecution has opposed their plea tooth and nail saying that there was sufficient material against the two to nail them in the crime.

The designated judge A P Bhangale has heard the arguments advanced by both sides and has kept the matter for January 23 for orders.

The accused Mohammed Hussain Mohammed Shaikh and Mohammed Rizwan Mohammed Ansari pleaded that the Central Review Committee had recommended their discharge (Rpt discharge) observing that there was no prima facie material against them in the bomb blasts at Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar on August 25, 2003, in which 52 persons were killed and 184 injured.

However, the prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam opposed the plea saying there was adequate evidence against the accused.

The duo had earlier approached the trial court which rejected their plea for discharge. being aggrieved, they filed an appeal in the Bombay High Court which, on October 24 last year, asked the prosecution to state his opinion in the trial court on withdrawal of prosecution against the two accused.

Accordingly, Nikam filed an application stating that charge had already been framed against the accused and trial had begun with prosecution examining 29 witnesses in the case.