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1993 blasts verdict
March 12, 1993 was a day that Mumbai will not easily forget. It was a day terror, in the form of 13 bomb blasts, struck with devastating force – with two of the targets being the commercial capital’s landmarks – Stock Exchange and Air India building. The13 blasts left 250 dead over 700 injured.
Now, thirteen years later, it is time for a verdict in what has been one of the longest running criminal trials in Indian legal history. A special TADA court begins to deliver verdicts in the 1993 serial blasts case from today (August 10), and has turned into a virtual fortress with prohibitory orders in force around the Arthur Road prison complex that houses the court.
The entire area around the high-security central jail has been cordoned off and entry restricted to common people, officials said. Security had been tightened as police feared anti-social elements could take advantage of the situation and try to fan communal passions as the verdicts were expected, the officials said.
All the 123 accused appear today in court. Out of these accused, almost 80, including actor Sanjay Dutt, are out on bail.
Here are some of the big names associated with this case:
Despite high expectations about convictions, the entire verdict in the over-100 cases related to the blasts, could still take a while longer.
“The matter of accused Abu Salem was before the High Court, and has gone into writ – it is therefore still pending and the case has been adjourned to August 14. If the judge on Thursday gives some directions, it will be subjudice. So I doubt whether judgement will really be passed in that case tomorrow.†Said Defence Lawyer Farhana Shah on Wednesday, referring to Abu Salem’s petition.
The delay will not just be due to the fact that the judgement will take long to dictate, but also because each of the 123 accused will be treated separately. Once the guilty are pronounced, there will be further arguments on the quantum of punishment – a month long process at the least. So all in all, a month and a half could pass before people get to know the judgement in its entirety.
“Considering the magnitude and enormity of the crime, considering the number of witnesses – and I am rather pained to say that the defence has adopted a definite strategy to prolong the hearing in this case,†said Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam.
At best, it seems to be the beginning of the end of a long wait for justice, for the victims of the 1993 blasts.