1993 blasts: 2 more get life sentence

MUMBAI: A Tada court on Tuesday sentenced to life imprisonment two persons who had played an active role on the day of the Mumbai serial blasts on March 12, 1993.

Imtiaz Ghawate, 40, was given two concurrent life sentences as he had planted an RDX-filled scooter in Dhanji Street in south-central Mumbai, which did not explode on March 12, 1993, as the pin of the detonator got stuck in RDX.

Another convict to get lifer on Tuesday was Nasim Barmare, held guilty of throwing hand-grenades at Bay 51 at erstwhile Sahar International Airport (now Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport) where aircraft were parked.

On various counts, Ghawate will have to pay a total fine of Rs 2,39,500. Earlier, the fine amount was worked out to Rs 2.77 lakh, but it was amended later as for conviction for attempt to commit an offence, the amount is lower.

Tada judge Pramod Kode said the attempt failed because of “grace of God” and not because Ghawate lacked the intent to commit it. He was held guilty of attempt to murder, along with offences under Tada.

Ghawate had also been convicted for being party to the conspiracy masterminded by Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger Memon. He was found guilty of participating in arms and ammunition landing at Shekhadi coast in Raigad, and in transporting the contraband from Wangni to Mumbai in a jeep.

Though Ghawate was one of the bomb-planters, the CBI did not ask death penalty for him, as he has been diagnosed as HIV positive.

He would be kept in Aurthur Road jail here until July 23, as the court has asked prison authorities to clarify as to where he should be lodged.