The Hindu : Front Page : Tarani guilty of murder bid: Kode

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Thursday, Sep 28, 2006
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Tarani guilty of murder bid: Kode

Staff Reporter

He caused explosion in Juhu Centaur Hotel

MUMBAI: Adding to the list of 18 convictions, the TADA court on Wednesday pronounced Mustaq Tarani guilty in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case.

Three persons were injured in an explosion of an RDX-laden suitcase he left in a room at the Juhu Centaur Hotel in Mumbai on March 12, 1993. Also, property worth Rs. 2.10 crore was damaged. But an RDX-laden scooter he parked on Sheikh Memon Street in south Mumbai the same day did not explode.

Tarani has also been found guilty of participating in a meeting, held at the Taj Mahal Hotel, with the absconding accused Tiger Memon and Javed Chikna. Tarani inspected the Stock Exchange building and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation building before deciding on the targets for serial explosions.

Judge P.D. Kode found him guilty under Sections 120-b (criminal conspiracy), 307 (attempt to murder), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 436 (causing damage to a human dwelling) of the Indian Penal Code; and under Sections 3(3) (aiding and abetting in a terrorist act) and 3 (2) (i) (terrorist act not resulting in death) of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act.

In addition, charges under several Sections of the Explosive Substances Act were proved.

Confession

Mr. Kode said he relied on Tarani's confession and eyewitness accounts. He also referred to the confession of an approver. Tarani listened to the judge intently and was seen praying before the judgment was announced.

He will make his statement on the sentence on Thursday.

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