Rehearing of 93â?? Mumbai blast case begins; Ghawate, Bharmare given life sentences

NI Wire

Mumbai

Tue, 17 Jul 2007: 

July 17: Special TADA court today has given life sentenced to Imtiyaz Ghawate, the planter of the bomb and Nasim Bharmare, the grenade thrower along with fin of Rs.

2.77 lakh and 2.30 lakh respectively.

After a long month break, special TADA court, benches by three panel of judges have found Ghawate accused of planting a bomb on a scooter at Zaveri Bazaar while Bharmare was found guilty of throwing a hand grenade at the Sahar airport runaway. Both were sentenced to life imprisonment and cash fine. 24 others accused are waiting for their terms includes Sanjay Dutt and Memon family members while the court had already sentenced 76 others accused before facing challenge filed by applicants.

A month before the accused wanted to challenge constitutionality of the TADA`s applicability before Supreme Court as TADA law had been lapsed in 1994. But the Apex court has rejected the petition stating, “Tada has been held constitutionally valid by a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court.” Tada Judge P D Kode referred the case to the Supreme Court last month.

Today, the hearing of this bomb blast case begins once again. The court has found guilty both of them and sentenced life imprisonment. Another accused Somnath Thapa, the Ex-Custom Commissioner did not appear before the court today. He is accused of providing facility to pass the RDX and Arms from Raigad coast to Mumbai that was used in bomb blast.

Despite of finding accused of bomb blast conspiracy, the court did not give death sentenced to both of them as they are suffering from fatal disease. Thapa is suffering from blood cancer while Ghawate has been diagnosed as HIV positive. There were 100 people found guilty in this serial blast case.

Sanjay Dutt, Memon Brother along with 24 others are still waiting for the judgment as it is not clear yet when will the court will sentenced them.