Media prohibited from writing on 7/11 train blast probe

Mumbai, Mar 21 (PTI) A special court in India's financial
capital Mumbai Saturday passed an order prohibiting the media
from publishing anything pertaining to investigations in the
serial train blasts here in July 2007.

The order was passed after the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS)
approached the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act
(MCOCA) court seeking a ban on publishing any story relating
to investigations of the case.

According to the application, considering the sensitivity
of the case and in larger public interest, a prohibitory order
on the media should be passed under Unlawful Activities
(Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Special MCOCA judge Y D Shinde accepted the prosecution's
arguments and passed a gag order on the media.

Media houses telecasting or publishing such material can
be prosecuted on criminal charges.

The ATS had on February 21 taken in their custody
Mohammad Sadiq Shaikh, alleged founder of terror outfit Indian
Mujahideen (IM) responsible for blasts in several cities
across the country.

The Mumbai police, which arrested Sadiq along with 20
other alleged IM members, had earlier claimed Sadiq was also
involved in Mumbai train blasts.

However, the police chargesheet in the IM case did not
mention Sadiq's involvement in the train blasts. PTI