69 serial blasts guilty plead for punishment under IPC, Arms Act

Mumbai, Feb 5 (UNI) Sixty-nine people, who have been held guilty by the TADA court here for their role in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, have urged the court to award them punishement under the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act but not under TADA.

The designated TADA court here has already held 100 accused as guilty for their role in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts but is yet to pronounce the quantum of punishment. Arguments are currently underway in the court on the quantum of punishment to be awarded to those found guilty.

Sixty-nine of the convicted persons have pleaded with the court that they should be awarded punishment under the IPC and the Arms Act. While citing the case of Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt who, though tried under TADA, was convicted under the IPC and the Arms Act, the 69 contended that the law should be applied equally to all.

The 69 guilty people, while making their plea before the court, contended that they were first-time offenders and had become embroiled in the 1993 blasts case to avenge the sufferings inflicted upon the members of their community and even their own family members during the communal riots following the demolition of the disputed structure in Ayodhya.

The TADA court, in response to the petition, has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to file a reply by February 7.

UNI