1996 Lajpat Nagar Blast: Delhi Court Grants Bail to One Accused Individual

A Delhi court has granted regular bail to one of the accused in the 1996 Lajpat Nagar bomb blast case.

The accused, Mehrajuddin Bhatt, alias Juber, was arrested 28 years after the incident. He had been declared a proclaimed offender on February 19, 1997, and was apprehended on July 9, 2024.

On May 21, 1996, a powerful bomb blast occurred in Lajpat Nagar Market, killing more than a dozen people and injuring several others. The Jammu and Kashmir Islamic Front (JKIF) claimed responsibility for the attack.

Additional Sessions Judge Hardeep Kaur granted bail to Mehrajuddin Bhatt, imposing several conditions, including a restriction on leaving the country without court permission.

The Investigating Officer (IO) informed the court that no incriminating evidence has been found against two co-accused, Faridabad Dar alias Behenji and Latif Ahmed Waza, during their examination. Mehrajuddin’s name surfaced in the disclosure statements of these co-accused. Mehrajuddin has been employed at the Institute of Management and Public Administration, Natipora, since 1989.

The court noted that on April 8, 2010, co-accused Farida Dar was acquitted of the charge of conspiracy, and Latif Ahmed Waza was acquitted of all charges.

Advocate Kartik Venu represented Mehrajuddin and argued that the accused is innocent and not a flight risk. It was also argued that Mehrajuddin, alleged to be part of the conspiracy, could not impede the investigation, as all evidence is documentary.

Initially, an FIR was registered at the Lajpat Nagar police station, but the investigation was later transferred to the special cell.

Out of the 17 accused in this case, four were convicted, six were acquitted, six were declared proclaimed offenders, and one accused has already expired.