Judgment on 1993 blasts accused on June 16

Mumbai: A special Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Prevention Act (TADA) court on Monday fixed June 16 as the date for pronouncement of judgment on trial against the second set of seven accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts.

Extradited gangsters Abu Salem, Mustafa Dosa, Karimullah Khan, Firoz Abdul Rashid Khan, Riyaz Siddiqui, Tahir Merchant and Abdul Quayyum are facing trial in the case in which the court earlier convicted 100 persons, including Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt. The trial of the said seven persons was kept separate as they were arrested later.

Earlier, the court did not convict any of the accused in this case for waging a war against the nation, however, special public prosecutor Deepak Salve argued before the court that these blasts were tantamount to war against the nation. He claimed that Pakistan had sponsored the bombings and hence, the accused should also be convicted for waging a war against the nation.

Special judge G.A. Sanap had fixed May 29 as a tentative date for pronouncement of judgment however, on Monday, the judge informed lawyers connected with the case that the judgment would be ready by the next date.

To this, defence pointed out that Ramzan was underway. This was mentioned so that the judge would fix the next date after a month however, the judge fixed June 16 for pronouncement of judgment.

Charges against accused

• Abu Salem has been charged with supplying arms, ammunition and hand grenades to actor Sanjay Dutt.
• Mustafa Dossa has been charged with arranging landing of arms, ammunition and explosives at Dighy in Raigad district and participating in the blast conspiracy.
• Tahir Merchant has been charged with making arrangements to send other convicts to Pakistan for training.
• Riyaz Siddiqui has been charged with transporting explosives in a van, which were later used in the blasts.
• Firoz Khan has been charged with arranging transportation and distribution of arms, ammunition and explosives.
• Karimullah Shaikh has been charged with smuggling arms into the country through the Shekhadi coast of Raigad district.
• Abdul Qayyum has been charged with accompanying Salem to Dutt's house to deliver arms and ammunition.

Timeline of the case

March 12, 1993: 13 blasts rock Mumbai. About 257 people are killed 713 injured.
June, 1995: Trial begins in TADA court in Mumbai, which is housed in high-security Arthur Road Central Prison.
September 2006: 100 accused, including Yakub Memon (brother of prime accused Tiger Memon) and actor Sanjay Dutt, are convicted.
July 13, 2006: Gangster Abu Salem’s trial is separated from the other accused.
July 27, 2007: The death sentence is awarded to Yakub by TADA Judge P.D. Kode.
July 30, 2015: Yakub is hanged to death.