A special NIA court today framed additional charges, including that of waging war against India, on Wasim Akram Malik, arrested for his alleged role in the September 2011 Delhi High Court blast that left 15 dead.
During an in-chamber hearing, District Judge I S Mehta framed additional charges under sections 121 (waging war against country), 121A (conspiring to commit certain offences against the State), 122 (collecting arms with intention of waging war against Govt) and 123 (concealing with intent to felicitate a design to wage war) of IPC against Malik, sources said.
Subsequent to framing of the charges, Malik pleaded not guilty and claimed trial after which the judge fixed the matter for April 1 for recording of evidence in the case.
Recording of evidence will begin with the examination of co-accused-turned-approver Amir Abbas Dev.
Dev was arrested by National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged role in the case but had later turned approver and was granted pardon by the judge.
The trial court had earlier declined the plea of NIA to prosecute Malik under the stringent charge of waging war against India which entails maximum punishment of death penalty, but the high court had ruled otherwise.
The Delhi High Court had on December 3 last year ordered the trial court to frame charges of waging war against the country against Malik, who is currently in jail.
The trial court had on October 1 last year framed charges, including that of murder, against Malik under IPC, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Explosive Substance Act for his alleged role in the terror attack at the high court's reception area.
