Bail for 15 in Coimbatore serial blasts case

Coimbatore, Aug 8 (UNI) Special Court Judge K Uthirapathy today granted bail to 15 convicts in the 1998 Coimbatore Serial Bomb Blasts Case.

The judge granted bail to the convicts who were found guilty of minor charges on personal surety. The bail applications of nine more persons would be taken up tomorrow while for two persons, it will be heard on August 17. The judge had convicted 158 of the 167 accused in the case.

On February 14, 1998, 58 persons were killed and about 250 injured in a series of bomb explosions in this city timed to coincide with the visit of BJP Leader L K Advani in connection with an election campaign. The damage to property was estimated at Rs 4.37 crore.

Of the 181 accused in the case, seven were killed during the bomb blasts. Five accused were absconding. Mohammed Dustagir, another accused, died during the trial.

Riaz-Ur-Rahman, the owner of Indian Explosive Corporation, Mysore, had turned appprover.

UNI