Dismissed cop sentenced to life in 1993 blasts case

Mumbai, May 22: A designated TADA court today handed down life sentence to dismissed police sub inspector V K Patil, convicted for his role in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts.

Six others were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment between six and seven years for their involvement in the blasts.

Designated TADA judge P D Kode, while pronouncing the quantum of sentence for Patil, said the latter had misused his position and allowed the smuggling of arms and ammunition in the coastal district of Raigad in Maharashtra. These explosives were later used to carry out blasts at various places across Mumbai, the judge said.

The TADA court also slapped a fine of Rs one lakh on Patil, failing which the convict will have to undergo an additional three-year rigorous imprisonment.

The court had earlier held Patil guilty under section 120 (B) of the Indian Penal Code, for criminal conspiracy, and also under Section 3(3) of TADA for facilitating the smuggling of deadly explosives that were used to cause the blasts.

Six others -- Gul Mohammed, Mohammed Hanif, Mohammed Rafique, Mohammed Sayyed, Shaikh Ibrahim, and Mohammed Usman Khan -- were awarded between six to seven years of rigorous imprisonment although the prosecution had sought the death penalty for them.

These six had received training in handling of arms and ammunition in Pakistan, where they had gone via Dubai. The court held that though they had received the training, they had not used that knowledge during the Mumbai blasts.

While sentencing Mohammed Rafique to seven-year rigorous imprisonment, the court observed he was deeply involved in the conspiracy and had attended meetings in Dubai and Pakistan to plan the blasts. However, all the six had been on bail for the past five to five-and-a-half years and had not indulged in any anti-social activity during the period.

UNI

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