CBI claims credit for 'justice delivered' in Bombay blasts case

New Delhi, Sep 12 (UNI) Seeking to corner credit for today's verdict in the 1993 Bombay bomb blasts case, the CBI claimed its swift and thorough investigations coupled with the arrests of the accused had brought about justice -- though slightly delayed.

CBI spokesman G Mohanty contended that the bureau -- on taking over investigation from the Bombay police -- collected additional evidence during further investigation and filed 19 supplementary reports.

He said in all 18 additional accused were identified by the CBI during its investigations.

''CBI could arrest 26 accused persons, out of which 21 were absconders, and the last one to be nabbed was Abu Salem.'' Out of more than 3,500 witnesses cited in the chargesheet by the Bombay police, the CBI pruned it to 684, which were essential to prove all the charges, he added.

''This led to the trial against 123 accused getting was completed by September 19, 2003.'' A series of bomb blasts rocked Bombay on March 12, 1993 leading to the death of 257 people and injuring 713 others.

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