Tiger's hitman found guilty for Zaveri blasts

MUMBAI: Mohammed Shoeb Kasam Ghansar, Tiger Memon’s hit man in ‘93 blasts, has been found guilty on charges of conspiracy and murder by the special TADA court in Mumbai.

Ghansar drove an RDX-laden scooter to the crowded Zaveri Bazaar in South Mumbai, killing 17 people. A cousin of Memon’s manager, Ghansar was in a sombre mood while the court pronounced him guilty on 13 counts. He had his hand in his prayer bag and was mumbling prayers throughout.

Special Judge PD Kode held him guilty under the Special Arms Act, Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, Explosives Act and various sections of the Indian Penal Code. Accused No 9 in the case, Ghansar was one of the 28 persons charged with planting bombs at 13 places in the city, and had been charged under TADA.

The CBI had contended that he was an associate of the absconding prime accused Tiger Memon. Ghansar loaded RDX into the vehicles used in the blasts along with others and finally he helped mastermind Tiger Memon flee the country on the morning of the blasts by organising his passport and ticket to Dubai.

The court upheld Ghansar’s original confession, even though he had retracted it and found him guilty of criminal conspiracy. While the court has found him guilty of planting bomb at Zaveri Bazaar he has not been found guilty of helping Tiger Memon to escape.

Judge Kode asked the defence to explain the charges to Ghansar and what the quantum of punishment could be for each offence. “He may face punishment ranging from five years to life imprisonment or even death,” special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said. The quantum of punishment would be pronounced on Friday.

“I want to give him a chance to know exactly what are the charges and the punishment for each charge,” the judge said.