13/7 accused had eye surgery to dodge ATS

Do you think you can elude the cops by getting rid of your glasses? Twenty six year-old Wakas Ibrahim Shaikh, an accused in the 13/7 terror blasts case, definitely thinks so. He allegedly underwent a laser operation to get rid of his glasses, in a bid to disguise his look three months after the terror attack which occurred at the Opera House, Zaveri Bazaar, and Dadar (west).

Site of the bomb blast at Charni Road on July 13, 2011. File photo

The 4,000-page chargesheet, a copy of which is with Sunday Mid Day, submitted by the Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) reveals this fact in its ‘ground level investigations'.

Shaikh underwent this surgery ‘with the sole intention of altering his physical appearance to obscure his identity and thereby evade arrest.' According to the chargesheet, doctors performed the surgery three months after the blasts, on October 15, last year.

The Lasik procedure was conducted at a private clinic, whose name has been withheld by police for security reasons. Shaikh's consent form mentions that the procedure was videotaped for educational purposes, on condition of anonymity.

A month prior to the blasts, Shaikh had given a fake Byculla address when he was admitted to JJ Hospital for malaria. The medical reports suggested that he had an enlarged liver. Shaikh was hospitalised for nine days.u00a0