Ejaz Pathan gets 10 yr RI, Sheikh Ali life

Mumbai, June 7 (UNI) A designated TADA court today handed out 10 years rigorous imprisonment and life sentence respectively to extradited gangster Ejaz Pathan and Sheikh Ali Sheikh Umar, a close associate of prime absconding accused Tiger Memon, in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.

Both of them were convicted by the court in October-November last year of attending conspiratorial meeting in Dubai, possessing arms and ammunition and also for their active involvement in the blasts.

While Pathan was awarded 10 years RI and a fine of Rs 2.25 lakh under section 3 (3), 5 and 6 of the TADA Act, Sheikh was handed a life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1.50 lakh under section 120 (B) of the IPC, section 3 (3), 5 and 6 of the TADA Act for facilitating the landing of arms and ammunition in the city.

He was also held guilty of owning a van, from which AK-56 rifles and hand grenades were recovered.

He had also attended conspiratorial meeting at the residence of another convict Nasir. Besides this, he was also involved in planting RDX at Al-Hussaini building at Mahim, and also for his involvement in surveying the BMC building, and Bombay Stock Exchange building.

Pathan was brought in a wheel chair to the court.

While awarding sentence to him, the court said leniency has been shown to him as he is suffering from various ailments. He has, therefore, been awarded lesser punishment, the court said.

While sentencing Pathan, the court also said it had awarded punishment in accordance with the crime and not by the ''convict's name''.

Meanwhile, Pathan's counsel Farhana Shah moved an application before the court, pleading that her client has been advised by the KEM Hospital to undergo a surgery, and so he should be transferred from Arthur Road Jail for undergoing the sentence.

Responding to her petition, Judge P D Kode directed the Superintendent of the Arthur Jail to make all necessary arrangements for Pathan's surgery. The court also directed that he should be kept away from other inmates.

Pathan, who was once a trusted lieutenant of Dawood Ibrahim, later changed his loyalty to the latter's rival, Chhota Rajan.

Earlier, he was also manhandled by the members of the Dawood gang in the jail.

The State government has already sanctioned funds for Pathan's impending surgery.

UNI