CBI may seek death for ‘93 blasts accused

The CBI is likely to seek the death penalty for all the 47 accused held guilty by the Tada court for being part of the 1993 blasts conspiracy. The prosecution, which will begin its arguments on the quantum of punishment for the blasts convicts, has divided the 100 convicts into three groups.

The first group comprises 47 convicts, all of whom have been held guilty for conspiracy, Tada and other charges. This group includes the RDX planters, Memon family members and others who were part of the inner circle of the conspiracy. They have been held guilty for the death of 257 persons, who died in the blasts.

Of the 47, the CBI has already finished the arguments for the four Memons. CBI counsel N Natarajan, who has been flown in from Delhi, will argue for the remaining 43 convicts in the first group on Thursday instead of special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, who has been holding fort till now. 

Surprisingly, the CBI plans to wrap up the arguments on the first group within two hours.  In the afternoon session, arguments for the second group of 44 convicts, held guilty under Tada but acquitted of being part of the blasts conspiracy, will commence.

The third group comprises nine convicts acquitted of Tada charges. This group includes actor Sanjay Dutt and three others who destroyed the weapons kept in his house. All four have been held guilty under the Arms Act. The remaining five comprise those held guilty under the customs act for being involved in the landing operations.