4 policemen get 6 yrs RI in 1993 blasts case

Mumbai, May 21: A designated TADA court here today sentenced four dismissed police constables to six years rigorous imprisonment (RI) for their involvement in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts case.

Delivering the verdict, special TADA Judge P D Kode found S Y Pashilkar, R D Mali, P M Mahadik and K M Muneshwar guilty and awarded six years rigorous imprisonment. The court also slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 each, in default, they will have to undergo further imprisonment of 6 months.

Hearing the sentence, all the four broke down in the court. All of them had earlier been held guilty under section 3(3) of the TADA Act. They were in custody for three years and on bail for 11 years.

The court, while passing the order, observed that though prosecution had asked for maximum punishment, however, it appears that they were not involved in the conspiracy and were obeying the directive of dismissed Police Sub Inspector V K Patil who, along with them, allowed the landing of the deadly arms and ammunition at Raigad, a coastal area in Maharashtra.

The prosecution charge was that when a truck, laden with arms and ammunition, was intercepted at Ghondgar Phata near Alibaug in Raigad district, Patil and seven constables had allowed it to pass without checking upon receiving a bribe of Rs 7 lakh.

The court, while considering the defence submission, observed that they were jobless. If awarded the maximum punishment, their families would suffer.

UNI

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