Blast convicts plead for leniency citing old age, infirmity

Mumbai, Oct 12 (UNI) The 1993 Mumbai serial blasts accused, who have been held guilty, pleaded with the designated TADA court to award them lenient sentences, citing advanced age, infirmity and even innocence.

Farooq Pawle, who has been held guilty of parking RDX-laden cars near the Air India building and the Shiv Sena Bhavan which had exploded and killed a total of 24 persons, today told the court that he was not aware that the cars were laden with explosives.

''I have been falsely implicated in the case and dragged into the conspiracy by absconding accused Anwar Theba and others,'' Pawle told the court. While pleading with the court to award him a lesser punishment, Pawle said he had already spent thirteen years in jail during which time he had lost three brothers and two brothers-in-law. Noting he has two minor children, Pawle told the court that he was undergoing psychiatric treatment since the last nine years.

Yusuf Khan, another accused who has been convicted, at first refused to make his statement before the court but upon being explained the need to do so, also urged for a lenient sentence.

He claimed his father had been a freedom fighter while his brother-in-law was serving in the Indian Army. ''I have never indulged in terrorist activities,'' he told the court.

Abdul Aziz Gharat prayed for a lesser sentence saying he was old and ailing. Rashid Alware, a fourth accused who has been convicted, told the court he had three school-going children and a four-year-old daughter who was not keeing well. His father was 95 years old and he was the sole earning member in the family, he told the court.

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