Customs official Thapa convicted

Sanjay Dutt’s verdict on Tuesday almost eclipsed the conviction of former Additional Customs Collector Somnath Thapa in the 1993 serial blasts.

Charged for failing to stop the smuggling of arms and ammunition into the country despite having specific knowledge of the landings, Thapa was held guilty of being part of the blasts conspiracy and intentionally aiding and abetting terrorists.

Thapa’s arrest in April 1993 sent shockwaves as he was the second-highest ranking officer the state Customs hierarchy then. The CBI alleged that in spite of having specific information of the landing at Shekhadi, Thapa did not inform the Alibaug division (Shekhadi came under its jurisdiction) to keep a watch. Instead, he laid a trap at another site.

Similarly when told about the landing near Mhasla, he allegedly sent a misleading wireless message that something had happened at Bankot, which lies in the opposite direction to Mhasla. He was also accused of suppressing information that the smuggled consignment contained chemicals and not the usual silver ingots.

Though Thapa had consistently maintained that he had been maliciously farmed in the case, Judge Kode accepted the confessions of other co-accused and evidence given by other Customs officers. “We will definitely file an appeal in the Supreme Court,” said Thapa’s lawyer Rajendra Shirodkar.

Thapa , a lung cancer patient, sought time till December 18 to surrender to the court. Noting that a person undergoing chemotherapy needs to be isolated for his own safety and that of others, Judge Kode accepted his plea.