A special court established under Terrorism and Disruptive Activities Act (“TADA”) found Abu Salem, Mustafa Dossa and four others guilty for conspiring and carrying out 1993 Mumbai Blasts which resulted in the death of 257 people and leaving 713 people injured along with huge damage to property worth ₹ 23 Crore.
They were charged under Sections 120B, 302, 307, 326, 427, 435, 436, 201 and 212 of the Indian Penal Code, Sections 3, 3(3), 5, 6 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Rapid Protection Act, and provisions of the Arms Act, Explosive Substances Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. A charge sheet was filed against 129 people and out of which 100 were convicted. Out of the 100 convicted, twelve were awarded death sentence and 20 were given life imprisonment in 2006. Further, the trial court converted the death sentence to life for 10 of the accused.
In its final judgment delivered on September 7, the special TADA Court judge GA Sanap sentenced Firoz Abdul Rashid Khan and Tahir Merchant to death, while Abu Salem and Karimullah Khan to life imprisonment with a fine of Rs. 2 Lakh. Only one of the accused Abdul Qayyum Karim Sheikh was acquitted as the prosecution failed to prove conspiracy charges against him and held the evidence to be incredible.
The public prosecutor couldn’t seek the death penalty for Abu Salem due to the extradition agreement between Portugal and the Government of India.
Follow Myadvo for daily legal news and top legal updates in India!
Image Source
