2003 twin blasts: High Court’s verdict on death sentences today

Holding a special sitting on November 12,the Division Bench of Justice A M Khanvilkar and Justice P D Kode had completed the hearing of arguments and reserved the judgment for Monday.

Ashrat Ansari (32),Hanif Sayed Anees (46) and his wife Fehmida Sayed (43) were held guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code,the Explosives Act,Explosives Substances Act and the stringent Prevention Of Terrorism Act (POTA). Their minor daughter was also named an accused,but was subsequently discharged from the case. All the accused were booked for planting powerful bombs in two taxis which exploded at the Gateway and Zaveri Bazaar on August 25,2003.

According to the prosecution,the conspiracy was hatched by Hanif,Ashrat,Nasir (who was later killed in a police encounter) and some Pakistani nationals owing allegiance to LeT in Dubai.

The trial court also found the trio guilty of bomb blast in a municipal bus in suburban Ghatkopar on July 28,2003,in which two persons were killed. According to the police,the accused belonged to LeT.

All three were awarded death sentences in January 2009 by a special court for Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) and the Bombay High Court was hearing the confirmation of the death sentences.

The twin blast case was jointly investigated by the Mumbai police and Anti-Terrorist Squad,which managed to nab eight persons. With two different complaints registered,the case when came up for trial was clubbed and a total of 103 witnesses were examined during the trial,which was held in the special POTA court here since 2004.

Two other accused — Rizwan M A Laddoowala and Mohammed Hassan Batterywala — were discharged by the POTA Review Committee,and their discharge was later upheld by the Supreme Court after it found there was no case against them. Another prime accused turned approver and was pardoned in May 2004,while one accused died during the trial.