Mumbai: The Bombay high court has directed the special Prevention of Terrorist Act court to send the passport of Atif Mulla, who was convicted in the 2002-03 bomb blast case, to the passport office for renewal. In 2016, the special Prevention of Terrorist Act and Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act court convicted Mulla to ten years’ imprisonment for involvement in the bomb blasts, which killed 12 people and injured 27 others.
A division bench of Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice Sarang Kotwal was hearing a petition filed by Mulla, stating that on March 23, 2018, the Supreme Court (SC) directed the high court that the passport bearing number E1668893, which was in the high court’s custody, be sent for renewal and if Mulla’s application was entitled for renewal, it be renewed.
After perusing the SC order, Justice Gavai directed the HC registrar to verify whether the passport was deposited with the registrar or with the special POTA court. In pursuance of the said direction, the HC registry informed the court that the passport was with the registrar of the Bombay city civil court. The court then directed the POTA court to transfer the said passport to the Mumbai passport office for renewal within one week, and also directed the passport office to deal with the said application within two weeks based on merit.
Between December 2002 and March 2003, there were three explosions in the city with the first blast on December 6, 2002 at Mumbai Central Railway Station, the second blast on January 27, 2003 at suburban Vile Parle, and the third blast took place in a local train at Mulund Railway Station on March 13, 2003.
