The three 1993 blasts accused were charged for driving the vehicles used to carry the explosives for Tiger.
The Tada court on Tuesday convicted the three accused in the 1993 serial blasts case for driving the vehicles used to carry arms and explosives smuggled by prime accused Tiger Memon.
Sayed Abdul Rehman Shaikh, a close aide of Tiger, Mohammad Kasam Lajpuria alias Mechanic Chacha, a key associate of Mohammed Dossa and Manoj Gupta, a lieutenant of Ijaz Pathan, were pronounced guilty. Judge PD Kode found the trio guilty on various charges.
The court however acquitted Shakil Shahabuddin Shaikh and Keshav Ghule for want of evidence. The court observed that although the duo were accused of dumping 59 bags of RDX in Nagla Bunder creek in Thane, the prosecution could not establish who had carried out the operation.
Sayed Abdul Rehman Shaikh was found guilty of being involved in the blasts conspiracy and transporting the contraband to godowns of co-accused Noor Mohammad and Mohammed Jindran.
Gupta was found guilty on the charges of participating in the landing operations at Shekhadi, possessing weapons and being a part of the group that conspired to dispose off 59 RDX bags at Nagla Bunder creek. Lajpuria was found guilty of taking part in landing operations in Dighi coast on January 6, 1993.
Tearful acquittal: As Judge PD Kode acquitted Shakeel Shahabuddin Shaikh of his involvement in the blasts case, Shaikh almost broke down.
Perhaps in a state of shock about his acquittal, Shaikh sat in the corner seat and wept, even as the other under trails congratulated him.
Keshav Ghule's relief at being acquitted was evident. "I just want to be with my family and become an auto-rickshaw driver," Ghule said.
Their mercy plea: "If not for me, my family would have to make do with petty jobs," said Tulsiram Surve. Surve, a watchman at the Wangani microwave tower, was convicted on Monday for allowing Memon’s men to use the government property to land arms and explosives.
The other convict Muzammil Kadri pleaded before the court that his wife was mentally unstable. Kadri was convicted for participating in the landing and transportation of arms and ammunitions at Shekhadi. "I have three children and I want to start life afresh," Kadri pleaded.
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