Two Tiger Memon aides held guilty in theatre blast

Asgar Yusuf Mukadam, a former accountant of Tiger Memon and accused No. 10, and Shahnawaz Abdul Kader Qureshi, accused No. 29, were found guilty of parking an RDX-laden car at Plaza theatre which exploded on March 12, 1993 at 3.15 pm. Mukadam was driving the car while Qureshi accompanied him.

The two convictions take the number of those held guilty in the case to seven, four of whom are members of the Memon family. The court has not sentenced any of them yet as arguments on the quantum of punishment continue.

Judge PD Kode also found Qureshi guilty of receiving arms training in Pakistan, the first judicial finding on any accused in the case obtaining arms training in the neighbouring country.

Mukadam, whose cousin Shoaib Ghansar was on Friday convicted of planting an RDX-laden scooter in Zaveri Bazaar that killed 17 and injured 57, was found guilty on another count: helping other accused to plant explosive —laden bags in three five star hotels — Sea Rock in Bandra, Centaur in Juhu and the Centaur Airport. There were no casualties in these blasts but damage to property was estimated at Rs 13 crore.

Mukadam was the first arrest made in the case in 1993, two days after the blasts.

He was, however, acquitted of two charges — participating in landing operations of arms and ammunition at Raigad coast before the blasts and attending meetings where the conspiracy was hatched.

But Qureshi was convicted under of TADA (P) Act for going to Pakistan for arms training and taking part in arms landing operations at Raigad coasts.

The twin convictions could attract maximum punishment of death or five years to life in jail, public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said. Judge Kode is likely to hear the statements of Mukadam and Qureshi tomorrow, to be followed by arguments on their verdict.

The court may also deliver the verdict on Century Bazaar bomber Abdul Gani Turk, if time permits.

The court today held that two witnesses had...