Former Customs official surrenders

Two days after the Supreme Court’s deadline of four weeks for convicts to surrender in the 1993 Mumbai serial blast case,former assistanst commissioner of Customs R K Singh surrendered before the designated TADA court Saturday. Singh,who was awarded nine years’ rigourous imprisonment by TADA court in 2007,has nearly a year and half more to serve. He was released on bail on December 1,2007 after spending seven years,six months and 27 days behind bars.

Singh,who had given permission for the landing of the contraband,missed out on the four weeks given by the apex court owing to personal problems. TADA judge G A Sanap Thursday said he would issue non-bailable warrant against Singh and Manoj Kumar Gupta. However,Singh surrendered and a warrant was issued only against Gupta,whose 14 years’ term was enhanced to life by the apex court.

Singh’s role was of a serious nature as he had met the main accused,Mohammed Dossa,at a restaurant named Persian Durbar where they discussed the details of the landing. Dossa’s case was seperated from the main trial as he was arrested much later. Doss is still facing trial.

The then trial Judge P D Kode had observed that he had “direct involvement in the Dighi landing and had received money for the Shekhadi RDX landing” and that “no leniency deserves to be shown” as he and the other officers belied the trust the government had reposed in them.

Singh,while surrendering,sought permission to access his medicines and carry Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s writings. The court granted permission for both.