Mushtaq Tarani was held guilty of planting a bomb in a five-star hotel that injured three persons besides parking an RDX-laden scooter at Shaikh Memon Street.
MUMBAI: Mushtaq Tarani, held guilty in the 1993 bomb blasts case, on Tuesday told a special court that his mentor and prime absconding accused Tiger Memon had "aroused his passions" to join the conspiracy but assured that in future he would never fall prey to such evil designs.
"I was dragged into the conspiracy by Tiger as he aroused my passions," Tarani told designated judge P D Kode while making a statement on the quantum of sentence.
Tarani was held guilty on charges of conspiracy and planting a bomb in a five-star hotel that injured three persons besides parking an RDX-laden scooter at Shaikh Memon Street in South Mumbai which, however, did not explode.
Tarani said he had fallen prey to Tiger's designs as his shop was damaged in 1992 communal riots and he was forced to close down his business. He also alleged that police had committed "atrocities" on members of the minority community.
Tarani said he was introduced to Tiger by co-accused Farooq who took him to hotel Taj Mahal in downtown Mumbai for a conspiracy meeting and later for a survey of potential targets.
"In the meeting Tiger aroused my passions and tried to convince us about the conspiracy plans," Tarani said.
Another convict, Gul Mohammed Noor Ahmed Shaikh, said he was brainwashed by Tiger to join the conspiracy as his house was burnt and damaged during the 1992 communal riots and police were allegedly "targeting" innocent people.
"I went to Dubai and returned on March 3 when I learnt that police was searching for me. So I surrendered and told police everything about the conspiracy."
Mohammed Hanif, who was also convicted last week, said he was lured to join the conspiracy by his master Salim Kurla who asked him to go to Dubai for arms training for a payment of Rs 3,000.
"Salim told me that I would have to follow what others would do in Dubai and Pakistan, but I told him that although there has been trouble I am not inclined to go to Pakistan. After 15 days I returned from Dubai and thereafter did not keep any contact with co-accused", he told the judge.
Hanif broke down, saying he was working on daily wages and he had no bank balance. He had two children and the landlord of his rented premises had asked him to vacate the house.
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