1998 blasts: Conviction for 153; Madani acquitted

Coimbatore, Aug 1: A Special Court today acquitted Kerala-based People's Democratic Party (PDP) leader Abdul Nasser Maudhany and seven others of the charges, while convicting banned Al-Umma leader S A Basha and 152 others in the Nine year old sensational Coimbatore serial bomb blasts case.

Delivering the much-awaited judgement in a packed court hall, nine years after the blasts rocked this textile city, Special Court Judge K Uthirapathy found Basha, Al-Umma General Secretary M D Ansari, Basha's son Siddique Ali and 150 others guilty of several charges, including criminal conspiracy and disturbing communal harmony. Of them, 73 were found guilty of criminal conspiracy and other main charges.

The Judge said the five charges against Maudhany, including criminal conspiracy, provocative speeches and transportation of explosive material from Kerala to Coimbatore, and seven others were not proved.

But, it was not clear whether Maudhany, cited as the 14th accused in the case, would be set at liberty immediately. The Judge, following persistent pleas from his counsel for his immediate release, was discussing the matter in his chambers.

The Judge deferred the pronouncement of verdict in respect of five accused to August six, from when the court would deliver the sentences. One accused had died during the course of the trial.

As many as 80 of the accused, against whom minor charges were proved, were asked to file their bail petitions on August six, as the charge of criminal conspiracy was not proved against them.

Out of the 167 accused, nine hailed from Kerala. Of them, four were convicted on minor charges, as many were acquitted of the charges and judgement deferred for the others.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made in the area in view of the pronouncement of judgement and the prevailing tense situation. A battery of newspersons descended on the city to cover the sensational case.

UNI