The TADA court held Mohammed Mushtaq Musa Tarani guilty in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts conspiracy and for causing the explosion at Centaur.
MUMBAI: In a significant verdict in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blast case, a TADA court on Wednesday convicted a close aide of prime conspirator Tiger Memon for triggering a blast in a hotel room and also held him guilty of planting an RDX-laden scooter in a busy market area which did not explode.
Mohammed Mustaq Musa Tarani, accused number 44 among the 123, was convicted under various provisions of TADA (P) Act, IPC and Explosives Substances Act.
Tarani faces punishment that may range from five years to life. He will give a statement on quantum of sentence in the court on Thursday.
Tarani's conviction has brought to the fore the active role played by Tiger Memon in plotting serial explosions in Mumbai on March 12, 1993, in which 257 persons were killed and another 713 injured, public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said.
Tarani was also held guilty under section 3 (3) of TADA (P) Act of attending a conspiracy meeting called by Tiger Memon at hotel Taj Mahal in Mumbai and surveying places targetted for blasts -- Bombay Stock Exchange and Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai Buildings.
Under the same act, he was also held guilty for parking an RDX-laden scooter at Shaikh Memon street in downtown Mumbai which did not explode.
Tarani was convicted under section 3(2)(ii) of TADA (P) Act for planting an RDX-laden bag in room 3078 of Centeur hotel in suburban Juhu which exploded at 3.20 PM on 'Black Friday', injuring three persons and damaging property to the tune of Rs 2.10 crores.
He is the 19th accused to be held guilty in the case.
Delivering the verdict, designated judge P D Kode said he had accepted Tarani's confession and also considered the evidence of witnesses who had identified him in the parade.
Tarani, who has been in custody for the last 13 years, however, appeared to be calm and composed while hearing the verdict.
According to CBI, Tarani had attended a conspiracy meeting in city's five star hotel Taj Mahal where co-accused Tiger Memon, Javed Chikna and Mohammed Usman Jan Khan plotted the serial explosions.
Soon after the meeting, Tarani accompanied Tiger and other accused on a tour to survey the targets -- Bombay Stock Exchange and Municipal Corporation buildings for carrying out explosions.
The conspirators were successful in causing a blast in Bombay Stock Exchange building but their plan to open indiscriminate firing at Shiv Sena corporators in Municipal Corporation building failed to materialise on the day of the blasts as they fled midway leaving their car at Worli because of a minor explosion.
In furtherance of the conspiracy, Tarani also planted an RDX-laden bag in Centeur hotel which exploded injuring three persons -- Sunil Sahani, Ketan Shah and Pragnya Shah.
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