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Thursday, Sep 13, 2007
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Blasts case: judgment copies yet to be given

Staff Reporter

‘Delay might go in favour of accused’

The trial started in 1995, arguments concluded in 2003
The last person was sentenced on July 31, 2007

MUMBAI: Last year, the first of the convictions was handed out in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case after a 14-year-long wait. But a year later, and after 100 convictions and 23 acquittals, the special court continues to work overtime as the judgment copies are yet to be handed out. On March 12, 1993, serial explosions killed 257 and injured over 700.

The trial started in 1995, and the final arguments concluded in 2003. On September 12, 2006, the court convicted four members of the Memon family for their involvement in the conspiracy, and thus started the delivery of the judgment.

On July 31, 2007, the last person was sentenced, and it was film actor Sanjay Dutt. He requested special judge P.D. Kode for time to surrender, but was taken into custody immediately. However, he received bail from the Supreme Court, along with five others. The Supreme Court said the accused had been granted bail as the judgment copies were not ready.

It directed them to surrender once the copies were furnished to them. So far, 12 accused have been granted bail, and eight have been released. Some of the 100 convicted have already served their sentences during the course of the trial and have been released.

The accused are not the only people waiting for the judgment copies. Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said: “I have not received the copy of the judgment yet, and am unable to see under what ground Sanjay Dutt was let off under TADA. Once I get the copy, I will analyse the judgment and may advise the State to file an appeal to book Dutt under TADA too.”

Defence counsel Subhash Kanse said the delay might go in favour of the accused. “They have faced this trial for so many years. Now, they have been waiting to receive the judgment.”

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