Four ex-cops get 6 yrs RI

All four were found guilty under Section 3 3 of TADA for aiding and abetting terrorist activities on the instructions of superior officer sub-inspector Vijay Patil. While sentencing the constables, the judge said 8220;each of them was held guilty in view of having allowed transportation of arms and ammunition by not thoroughly checking them and allowing the vehicle to pass through Gondgha Phata8221;.

8220;The contraband, instead of being seized, was allowed to pass through for Rs 7 lakh by the entire police party after negotiating with co-accused Uttam Potdar, Customs officer Jayawant Gurav, Mohammed Kasam Lajpuria and Salim Kutta,8221; the judge said.

Although Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam demanded maximum penalty, the judge ruled that a blanket attitude cannot be adopted as they were not found guilty of conspiracy.

Judge Kode also did not entertain defence lawyer Farhana Shah8217;s plea for showing leniency. Shah had contended that they had responsibilities towards their families and they had lost their jobs and their financial conditions were bad.

The judge said it was difficult to accept the argument as they had chosen not to do their duty but acted and abetted such activities, sending a wrong signal. 8220;No sympathy deserves to be given in this case,8221; the judge added. 8220;Now they are no threat to society as they will not commit a similar offence.8221;

According to the charges, sub-inspector Patil had intercepted the vehicle transporting the consignment of arms and ammunition8212;smuggled in at the instance of Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger Memon8212;at Gondgha Phata in a police jeep with constable Mahadik at the wheel. The accused policemen then escorted the vehicle through the check-post and allowed it to resume its journey to Mumbai.

During investigations, Rs 30,000, Rs 60,000 and Rs 15,000 were recovered from Muneshwar, Mahadik and Mali, respectively. A scooter was recovered from Pashilkar.

10-yr RI for Salem aide

MUMBAI: Judge Kode sentenced Manzoor Ahmed Sayed, an aide of gangster Abu Salem, to 10 years rigorous imprisonment for carrying weapons from Sanjay Dutt8217;s residence to the house of co-accused Zebunissa Kazi. The judge also ordered him to pay a fine of Rs 50,000. 8220;He and Salem distributed the arms in a notified area in Bombay. He has been charged under Section 3 3 of TADA because he was carrying arms for the purpose of distributing it, which is a more dangerous act,8221; Judge Kode said. Ahmed has been in custody for nine years and 10 months after his bail was cancelled in 1995 based on an extortion charge.

8217;93 BLASTS: THEY TURNED A BLIND EYE

Ashok Muneshwar: Intercepted and escorted the consignment of arms and ammunition through the check post. He8217;s already served two years and seven months in prison.

Pandarinath Mahadik: Was driving the police jeep that intercepted and escorted the consignment of arms and ammunition. He8217;s already served two years and seven months in prison.

Ramesh Mali: Intercepted and escorted the consignment of arms and ammunition through the check post. He8217;s already served two years and seven months in prison.

Shrikrishna Pashilkar: Intercepted and escorted the consignment of arms and ammunition through the check post. He8217;s already served two years and seven months in prison.