Nikam informed Tahilyani that Shaikh had reportedly left home at 6.30 a.m. to come for the cross-examiantion but had not turned up. 'This is a grave matter,' Tahilyani observed and said he would decide later on what steps the special court should take in the matter.

The public prosecutor later said henceforth 'necessary security' would be provided to all the key witnesses in the 26/11 trial.

On Thursday, Shaikh had revealed that Fahim was his friend for many years and a neighbour in Goregaon and he had met him in Kathmandu with Sabahuddin in a guest house.

He also he had seen the duo exchanging hand-made maps of targeted locations in Mumbai, their conversations about LeT chief of operations Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and other details.