PTI

Mumbai, Dec 1: The mood at special MCOCA court was sombre where Dayanand Pandey, an accused in high-profile Malegaon case, was produced and sent to judicial custody till December 12.

The case was being probed by Hemant Karkare, who fell victim to the bullets of militants on Wednesday night on way to Cama Hospital, south Mumbai.

An exhausted-looking assistant commissioner of police ATS, Mohan Kulkarni brought Pandey, one of the main accused, before the Special Judge Y D Shinde and did not press for his further police custody.

He was sent to judicial custody till December 12 in a brief hearing which lasted not more than 10 minutes.

"We miss him (Karkare). We are not in a mental state to accept that he is no longer with us," Kulkarni told reporters in a choked voice.

In his firm resolve, Kulkarni said the best tribute to Karkare would be to bring culprits to justice.

Karkare was investigating the Malegaon case, which for the first time brought out the alleged involvement of Hindu extremists in terror strikes.

A serving Lt-Col Shrikant Purohit and Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur have been arrested, besides nine others.

"Its unfortunate that he is no longer with us. On the fateful Wednesday, Karkare was discussing the case with me and today he is no more," said special public prosecutor Rohini Salian.

"But the show must go on," the government counsel said and made a statement without any elaboration that "all forces are against us."