Thakur gets death sentence

MUMBAI, MARCH 28: The prime accused in the JJ shootout case, Dawood Ibrahim aide Subhashsingh Thakur, was today awarded the death sentence...

MUMBAI, MARCH 28: The prime accused in the JJ shootout case, Dawood Ibrahim aide Subhashsingh Thakur, was today awarded the death sentence by designated TADA judge P K Chavare. The judge pronounced that Thakur be hanged to death immediately after confirmation of the order from the Supreme Court.

The two other convicts in the case, former chairperson of the Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Council Jayant Dattatraya Suryarao and Shyam Kishore Garikapatti have been sentenced to seven and ten years of rigorous imprisonment respectively.

The September 12, 1992 shootout, in which Arun Gawli aide Shailesh Shankar Haldankar was shot dead in the JJ hospital premises, was a reprisal killing masterminded by Dawood for the killing of his brother-in-law Ibrahim Ismail Parkar 38 in July 1992. Two police constables P G Javsen and K B Bhanawat were also killed in the shootout.

The death sentence was slapped on Thakur under Sections 120 B conspiracy and 302 murder of the Indian Penal Code and Section 3 2 I terrorist act of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Prevention Act TADA.

He was awarded rigorous imprisonment for life under Sections 3 2 ii attempt to murder and 3 3 aiding and abetting crime of the TADA Act and Section 307 murderous assault of the IPC.

Subashsingh Thakur was also given ten years8217; rigorous imprisonment under Sections 5 possessing weapons in a notified area and 6 enhanced punishment for the same act of the TADA Act. He has also been ordered to pay Rs 500 each as the fine on 12 counts.

All the sentences will run concurrently.

Suryarao was awarded seven years8217; RI under Section 3 4 harbouring terrorists of the TADA Act and two years8217; RI under Section 212 sheltering accused of the IPC. Garikapatti was sentened to ten years8217; RI on the same two counts. Both Suryarao and Garikapatti have been fined Rs 500 on each count and in case of default will undergo one months8217; RI.

Story continues below this ad

Before the pronouncement of the judgement, counsel for Thakur Harshad Ponda prayed for a lesser sentence for his client on the grounds that the shootout was not the rarest of rare cases and that Thakur had expressed his wish to leave JJ Hospital after the initial exchange of bullets.