Blasts convict who lost daughter gets parole

A convict in the 1997 Mumbai blasts case, whose one-month-old daughter died on February 11, was granted 10-day parole on Thursday after the Bombay High Court asked authorities whether they had ‘different yardsticks’ for a common convict and a film star an obvious reference to Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who has been given two month-long extensions in his parole since December.

Mohammad Yakub Abdul Majid Nagul, 40, who is serving a 55-year consecutive term, had first sought parole to make arrangements for his child’s birth but his request was rejected by authorities. The child was born on January 3 but one month later developed complications and died.

Following this, Nagul’s wife applied for his parole with Nagpur’s divisional commissioner and the superintendent of the prison, but authorities didn’t take a decision for 10 days, following which Nagul moved High Court. On Thursday, the bench comprising Justices B R Gavai and A S Chandurkar, expressed regret that a convict who had lost his daughter wasn’t allowed to attend her
funeral.

Later, Nagul’s lawyer Nagman Ali said: “Authorities were asked to submit their response after lunch break, but already fairly chastised, they told the court they were granting parole to Nagul.”  Nagul was released on Friday.