1993 Mumbai blasts accused knew of crime, RDX not pest killer: Court

MUMBAI: Taher Merchant and Feroz Khan were given the death sentence on Thursday for having conspired to cause the co-ordinated 1993 Mumbai blasts, while Abu Salem and Karimullah Khan were given life terms. Riyaz Siddiqui got a 10-year sentence. Special counsel Deepak Salvi had sought death for four, including Karimullah Khan and Mustafa Dossa, brother of prime absconding accused Mohammed Dossa, held guilty of plotting the blasts. But Dossa died in custody on June 28 before the sentencing and the trial against him stood abated.

 

At 1.01pm, pronouncing the first of two death sentences, the court said Merchant was to be “hanged by the neck until dead”. The court then read out a similar sentence against Feroz. While Merchant was stoic, repeatedly wiping the sweat off his face, a visibly shocked Feroz sat down. The court said the duo were not to be hanged until SC confirmed the sentences.

 

On the accused’s knowledge of their crime, the judgment said, “RDX cannot be used as a powder to kill mosquitoes and flies, and it cannot be assumed that AK-56 rifles were being distributed in schools in Bombay as toys. The accused had knowledge about the offence.”

 

The 11 loudly whirring fans in the courtroom were switched off before the pronouncement began to enable the lawyers, the media, CBI officers and the five convicts at the back to clearly hear the judge as he held their fate a sentence away.

 

All five were also fined. But the court observed since the fine amount was meagre and not adequate compensation for families of victims and the seriously injured, the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) must recommend adequate compensation to be paid by the state to victims. The court directed the SP, CBI, to cooperate with DLSA.

 

After the judge left the courtroom, Feroz and Karimullah scrambled to meet their lawyers. Salem’s lawyers went to him. As cops resisted their attempts, Feroz said, “Pareshaan mat karo. Sirf lawyer se milna hain.” Their family members were not allowed in the courtroom but waited at the end of the corridor. Qayyum Shaikh (60), the sole accused to be acquitted, was seen consoling the accused.