Coimbatore blasts: 84 move bail applications

COIMBATORE: Eighty-four undertrials in the 1998 serial blast cases have moved bail applications, following findings of the special court that they were not guilty of major charges.

The judge, K Uthirapathi, delivering the judgment on the findings of the court on 220 core charges against 166 accused, found 69, including S A Basha, founder of banned 'Al-Umma,' guilty of major charges like criminal conspiracy, spreading hatred between two communities, murder and attempt to murder.

Those who were not found guilty of these major charges were asked to file bail petitions, following which 84 persons have submitted petition before the Court, which would process them on August 6.

The court, which has exonerated Abdul Nasser Madhani, the founder-chairman of Kerala-based PDP, has also given bail for seven others.

The Court on August 1 deferred judgment on findings, whether proved guilty or not, as far as five others were concerned, which is likely to be announced on August 6.