6 confidantes of Tiger Memon get 5 to 14 years RI

Mumbai, May 24: The designated court, hearing the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, today sentenced six more close associates of kingpin Tiger Memon, to rigorous imprisonment for periods ranging between five to 14 years.

Among the six was Sharif Parkar, the main landing agent of the deadly RDX that was used to carry out the blasts. Parkar was sentenced to 14 years rigorous imprisonment under Section 6 of the TADA.

He was also sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment each on two other counts but the sentences will run concurrently.

Judge P D Kode also slapped a total fine of Rs three lakh upon Parkar, who will face an additional three years RI if he defaults in paying the fine.

Besides serving as the main landing agent, Parkar had organised a training camp in Raigad where other accused were trained to handle explosives. According to sources, he has already served 14 in jail and, so, could become free on payment of the fine.

Parkar had held a meeting with Customs officials at a hotel in Raigad and Tiger Memon too had been present on that occasion.

Initially, he was not aware of the contents of the consignment he was supposed to land and thought it was silver. However, later, he had discovered it was explosives but, despite this knowledge, did not discontinue his association with Tiger Memon.

Parkar's son Mujib was also sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment. He was held guilty of supervising the landing of the RDX and other explosives at Shekadi in Raigad district. A fine of Rs 25,000 was also imposed on him.

Sarfaraz Phanse, also held guilty of supervising the landing operations, was sentenced to nine years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000.

Suleman Ghawte and Sayyed Abdul Rehman were sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000 each. They will have to undergo an additional three months imprisonment if they defaulted in paying the fine. Both Ghawte and Rehman were drivers of vehicles that were used to transport the explosives.

The sixth person upon whom the judge awarded the sentence today was Raju Laxmichand Jain alias Raju Kodi. He was awarded seven years rigorous imprisonment and will undergo an additional three years imprisonment if he fails to pay a fine of Rs one lakh. Raju Kodi had purchased jeeps and vans on behalf of Tiger Memon for transporting explosives.

Judge Kode has so far pronounced sentences upon 28 of the 100 persons convicted in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts. The judge is yet to award sentences upon the members of the Memon family, as also Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt.

UNI