With co-accused-turned-approver in September 2011 Delhi High Court blast case trial Amir Abbas Dev testifying that he does not know the meaning of 'Jihad', contradicting his earlier statement to the NIA, a court here today said it will query him on the issue.
During an in-chamber hearing, District Judge I S Mehta disposed of National Investigation Agency's (NIA) plea to re-examine Dev following "ambiguity" in his statement and framed a "court question" regarding the meaning of 'Jihad', court sources said.
During the recording of evidence earlier, Dev was asked by accused Wasim Akram Malik's advocate Mehmood Pracha what does he mean by the word 'Jihad' and the witness had said that he does not know, the sources said.
The DJ today framed a question to be asked to Dev saying, "I have perused the statement of PW 1 (Dev). It requires clarification. I accordingly frame the court question 'what does the 'Jihad' mean in his statement' concluded till April 18, 2013 subject to the cross examination of both the parties i.E. Accused as well as the NIA."
NIA had moved the court saying there was "ambiguity" in Dev's statement and it should be made clear "either from the court question" or from allowing their plea for re-examining him on the point as to what does 'Jihad' means as stated by him in his deposition.
Advocate Pracha had opposed the NIA's plea saying after recording of the statement, Dev was "tutored" by the NIA to fill the lacunae which have come during the cross examination.
Dev, who was initially arrested in connection with the blast at Delhi High Court's reception on September 7, 2011 which killed 15 people, later turned approver.
The court had first recorded Dev's statement after the trial against Wasim Akram Malik, the sole arrested accused in the case, had commenced on April 1, this year.
