Accused seeks mercy to marry

Mumbai, Dec 5 (UNI) A 1993 serial bomb blasts accused, convicted by TADA court here yesterday, today sought leniency in punishment on the ground that he is to marry his love waiting for him for more than 13 years he has been in jail.

Bashir Gani, 40 , found guilty of the charge of lobbing a hand grenade at Mahim's fishermen colony on March 12 , 1993, alleged he had been falsely implicated in the case. Three people were killed and six wounded in the grenade attack in the colony.

Gani, an electrician, said he was engaged to be married in 1992 but could not because of demolition of Babri masjid, followed by communal violence in Mumbai in which he and his family suffered. He claimed his brother was assaulted and a vehicle of his uncle was burnt during the violence which rocked the metropolis in 1992-93.

Recording his statement in the court of Mr Pramod Kode on the quantum of sentence, he said his parents had died and he was now dependent on his sister who has been supporting him all these 13 years he has been in jail by earning livelihood from tailoring at home.

Also stating that he had undergone psychiatric treatment and was suffering from depression and low blood pressure, Gani said he has no criminal background and undertook to lead a clean life if released.

Samir Hingora, owner of Magnum Video, sought leniency on health ground, saying he had undergone angioplasty but is still suffering from heart ailments.

Hingora, one of the eight members of the ring around cinestar Sanjay Dutt, was out on bail when declared guilty in the blasts case last week. He said he had already spent 67 months in jail though he also alleged he was falsely implicated in the case.

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