Mumbai, February 8
A special court constituted under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) today framed charges against Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal in connection with the 2006 Aurangabad arms haul case.

Charges against Jundal, who is named as the handler of Kasab and other terrorists who carried out the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, have been filed under several sections under the Indian Penal Code, including Arms Act, Explosive Substance Act and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

During the framing of charges, Jundal pleaded innocent before the court and denied that he belonged to either the Lashkar-e-Toiba or the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

According to the prosecution, Jundal was part of a group of terrorists that was transporting 30 kg RDX, 10 AK47 assault rifles and ammunition when they were intercepted by members of the anti-terror squad of the state police. While three terrorists were taken alive in the incident of May 8, 2006, Jundal managed to escape, according to police.

Shortly afterwards, Jundal escaped to Bangladesh and then made his way to Pakistan. A resident of Beed in Maharashtra, Jundal played a major role in familiarising the Mumbai terror attackers, according to investigators. He was also in the control room set up in Karachi from where the movements of the Mumbai attackers were coordinated, according to the police.