1993 blasts: 7 more sentenced to life imprisonment

Mumbai, May 31: The designated TADA court today awarded rigorous imrisonment to seven 1993 serial blasts convicts, ranging from life imprisonment to five years.

Among those on whom sentences were pronounced today were the driver of prime absconding accused Tiger Memon and others who are involved in the landing and transportation of arms, ammunition and explosives.

TADA court judge P D Kode sentenced Mohammed Rafiq Madi to six years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000. Madi, who served as Tiger Memon's driver, had actively participated in the transportation of arms and ammunition.

He had been held guilty under sections 3(3) and 6 of TADA. He was awarded five years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000 under Section 3(3) and six years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000 under Section 6 of TADA. The sentences are to run concurrently.

The court also awarded five years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000 to Mohammed Yusuf Khan who had used his vehicle for transporting the arms and explosives from Shekadi in Raigad district to Mumbra in Thane district where they were kept in a godown.

The court, while awarding the sentence on him, observed that although he was charged by the prosecution under section 120B of IPC for participating in the conspiracy, the evidences produced before the court did not reveal any concrete proof about his involvement in the conspiracy.

Ashraf Ur Rahman alias Lalunhai, a septuagenerian convict, was awarded life imprisonment and a fine of Rs two lakh under sections 5 and 6 of TADA. He was found in possesion of 85 hand grenades, 350 electric detonators, and 3070 live cartridges of AK-56 rifles.

While awarding the life sentence to Ashraf Rahman, the court hevaily came down on the prosection and said that because of lapses on the latter's part, the court was awarding lesser punishment although the convict deserved the death penalty.

Castigating the prosecution, Judge Kode said, ''You allowed the accused to go free by producing poor evidences. This sends wrong signal to the society.''

Judge Kode observed that Ashraf Ur Rahman was found in possession of a large quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives -- even a little quantity of which, if used, could have blown off entire South Mumbai. While recording his confessional statement, the recording officer had not followed the proper procedure, which had compelled the court to award lesser punishment.

The court sentenced Asif Shaikh to eight years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 125,000. He was found in possession of four hand grenades.

Nasir Abdul Qadir was awarded the life sentence but the court did not slap any fine on him because of his poor financial condition. He had visited Pakistan and received training in arms. He had participated in the conspiratorial meeting in Dubai, and had actively participated in the landing of the arms, ammunition and explosives in Shekhadi. He had also helped in arranging the explosives in vehicles which were made to blow off. The explosives were arranged in the vehicles at the Al Huusaini building, where the Memons were residing.

While awarding the sentence upon Qadir, the court observed that he was deeply involved in the conspiracy but in the last moments, he had becme remorseful. However, he had not reported the matter to the police despite feeling that the conspiracy was ''not fair''. He was, therefore, given benefit under mitigating circumstances and awarded the life sentence.

Ayub Ibrahim Patel, who is also an accused in the murder case of cine actress Manisha Koirala's personal assistant Ajit Deewani, was awarded ten years RI and a total fine of Rs 125,000. He was held guilty under sections 3(3), 5 and 6 of TADA but the sentences are to run concurrently. Police had recovered 20 hand grenades from his Jogeshwari residence. However, it was not proved that these hand grenades were part of the smuggled arms and ammunition brought by Tiger Memon.

The court awarded ten years rigorous imprisonment and slapped a total fine of Rs 50,000 upon Shahnawaz Khan who was held guilty of participating in the landing operations. He had visited Dubai and was to proceed to Pakistan but had to abandon his Pakistan visit. He was held guilty under Secton 3(3) of TADA and Section 120 (B) of IPC but the sentences are to run concurretly.

UNI

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