Special Court to start pronouncing verdict from Sep 28

Coimbatore, Sep 26 (UNI) The Special court For Bomb Blast Cases Judge K Uthirapathy, trying the sensational 1998 serial bomb blasts case, today said he would start pronouncing the sentences on September 28 in a phased manner.

Mr Uthirapathy said the sentences would be pronounced, even as the court hears arguments of the defence lawyers for the prime accused on the verdict.

On February 14,1998 this textile city was rocked by serial explosions, which claimed 58 lives and injured over 250 people, besides causing loss worth several crores to property.

The Special Investigating Team (SIT) of the CB-CID arrested 168 people. Dusgir, an accused, died during the trial, while Riaz-ur-rahman turned an approver.

The arrested included Kerala-based People's Democratic Party (PDP) chairman Abdul Nasser Mahdani, banned Al-umma president S A Basha and secretary Mauhammed Ansari.

The chargesheet ran into 16,000 pages and 1,300 witnesses were examined.

The judge started pronouncing his verdict on August first last.

As many as 91 accused, including Mr Maudhany, were released on bail.

However, as many as 76 accused, including the approver, were still in the prison.

The process of pronouncing the sentences would be completed within 15 days after the completion of the arguments, the judge said.

UNI