POTA court to pronounce verdict in 2003 Mumbai twin blasts case today

MUMBAI: A special Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) court will on Monday pronounce its verdict in the six-year-old Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar twin blasts case.

On August 25, 2003, two bombs left in taxis exploded in south Mumbai - the Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar in the busy Kalbadevi area, killing 52 people and wounding more than a hundred others.

The court will pronounce its judgment against three accused. They are Haneef Sayyed (46), an auto driver, his wife Fahmeeda (43) and Ashrat Ansari (32).

The attacks were carried out to "avenge" the deaths of Muslims during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

It is the most awaited judgement in a terrorist case after the Special TADA Court completed the March 2, 1993, serial blasts trial in 2007, which led to the conviction of 100 people, including Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt.