Two members of a Hindu revivalist group,convicted for their role in bomb attacks in the Mumbai Metropolitan region in 2008,were sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment by a sessions court here on Tuesday. Ramesh Gadkari and Vikram Bhave,who were found guilty on several counts under the stringent Explosive Substances Act,Explosives Act,Damage to Public Properties Act and the Indian Penal Code,were on Tuesday sentenced on each ground,for their role in two of the three blasts in Panvel,Thane and Vashi. Looking at the circumstantial evidence,possessions,accuseds presence at the spot and their behaviour during the relevant period,Gadkari and Bhave are held guilty for carrying out blasts in Thane and Vashi auditorium, Sessions Judge N V Nhavkar said in the order. The accused were also fined Rs 9,500 each. The sessions court acquitted four other accused Mangesh Nikam,Santosh Angre,Haribhau Divekar and Hemant Chalke for lack of evidence and the prosecutions failure to prove the charges. Most importantly,the accused were absolved of all charges levelled under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. They have lived with the stigma of being identified as terrorist for three years. The court today declared they are not terrorists, said defence lawyer Sanjeev Punalekar.
