2 convicted, 1 acquitted in the 93' Mumbai blasts case today

Mumbai, Oct 5 (UNI) The designated TADA court in Mumbai today convicted two bomb blast accused, Naseer Dhakla and Mohammad Rafique Sheikh, for their involvement in the 93' Mumbai bomb blast case.

However, the court acquitted another accused, Mohammad Ahmed Manzoor.

Special TADA Judge P D Kode convicted Naseer Dhakla for visiting Pakistan via Dubai, to participate in a training camp organised to impart training in the handling of arms and explosives there.

He was also found guilty for actively participating in the landing of the deadly arms and ammunation at Raigad.

Dhakla was also held guilty for taking part in the conspiratorial meetings held at the residences of the co-accused, Mobina, Babloo and others.

However, the charges concerning the filling of RDX in the suitcases and vehicles was not proved against the accused.

The court had accepted his confessional statements, though it was retracted later, as a witness and another co-accused who later turned approver, had identified him in an identification parade held at the court-room.

The witness testified against Dhakla, who has been in jail for the past 13 and half years.

Another accused who was convicted, Mohammad Rafique Sheikh, who has also been in custody since the day of his arrest in April 1993, was convicted by the court on all the charges.

He was convicted for receiving weapons training in Pakistan, and also for actively participating in conspiratorial meetings held at the residences of Babloo and Mobina.

The court had accepted the retracted confessional statements of the accused as the statements of the co-accused indicated the involvement of the accused.

Meanwhile, while acquiting Mohammad Ahmed Manzoor, Judge Kode gave him the benefit of doubt as prosecution failed to produce concrete evidence against him.

He was charged for receiving the four co-accused namely, Osman Khan, Hanif Sheikh, Mohammad Saeed Sheikh and Sheikh Ibrahim, at the Dubai Internatinal airport. The accused persons had visited Dubai for participating in the weapons trainig camp at Pakistan.

The court acquitted him as his identity was not established as the same person who had received the co- accused at the airport.

Wearing a white kurta pyjama, Manzoor, who was allegedly a close aide of Hanif Ibrahim, the brother of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, thanked the Judge after he was acquitted.

Manzoor, who was on bail during the trial, also sought the court's permission, to visit Ajmer in Rajasthan for offering prayers at the famous shrine of 'Khwajasaheb'. The court granted him permission to visit any part of the country, but directed him to remain present when the court would pronounce the final verdict.

His presence is required only to sign certain documents.

UNI XR WD VD HT1555