
The special TADA court trying the 1993 serial blasts case today convicted Niyaz Shaikh, a Tiger Memon aide, on all counts and acquitted Rukhsana Jariwala, wife of absconding accused Mohammed Shafi.
Shaikh was charged with undergoing arms and ammunition training in Pakistan and participating in a meeting at co-accused Nazir Ahmed Anwar8217;s house to chalk out the plan for the serial blasts on March 12, 1993. He was also part of the team which did a recce at the BMC headquarters along with co-accused Javed Chikna and Shaikh Ali.
8220;You are found guilty of all charges on the basis of the evidence of the approver and a number of confessions,8221; said Judge Kode. Shaikh, an aspiring actor, has been in custody for the past 13 years.
Rukhsana Jariwala, charged with transporting 85 hand grenades, 350 detonators and 3,270 live cartridges along with her husband Shafi and convicted accused Parvez Shaikh from Jogeshwari to Musafirkahana in a van, was acquitted of the charge as the court found the confessions against her unreliable.
8220;There were two confessions but they have not been relied upon,8221; said Kode clearing her of the charge. Parvez had also been found not guilty on this particular charge, though was convicted on other counts. Jariwala, the third woman to be acquitted in this case, told the court that she was very disturbed about her missing husband.