2 min readMumbaiMay 21, 2013 02:12 AM IST
First published on: May 21, 2013 at 02:12 AM IST
Sharif Abdul Gafoor Parkar alias Dadabhai was brought in an ambulance to surrender before the special TADA court here Monday. Parkar,awarded life sentence for facilitating landing of arms used in the March 12,1993,Mumbai serial blasts at Shekhadi village in Raigad district,had suffered a cardiac arrest a week ago. Since then,he was in hospital.
After TADA judge G A Sanap issued non-bailable warrants against Parkar and another convict Zaibunissa Kazi 70 Friday,they were wheeled to court by their families. Asked how he felt returning to jail after 14 years,2 months and 7 days,Parkar said,Ill die.
Parkars family has hidden from him that he has to spend his remaining life in jail,telling him its only a question of five years. I cant tell my father his punishment is life imprisonment. Hell eventually come to know, said 42-year-old Faisal,son of Parkar.
Parkar,a gold smuggler,admitted he did the consignment for money. I received Rs 5,000 but I did not know what was in the boxes. Had I known I would never have committed this mistake, he said. Parkar claims he came to know of the content of the consignment only after the blasts.
Kazi,a cancer survivor,has been on medication for the past few months. She cannot walk or sit without support. Her blood pressure and sugar are high, her daughter Shagufta said. Both families plan to approach the governor soon for pardon. Kazi was convicted under TADA for keeping grenades,AK-56 rifles and ammunition delivered at actor Sanjay Dutts house. Her conviction is based on co-accused Manzoor Sayyeds confession,which he later retracted. While Sayyed said the bag containing the weapons was handed over to a middle-aged woman,he never mentioned her name, Shagufta said.
Kazi has to spend four years and a month in jail after Supreme Court upheld her five-year sentence. She has already served nine months. The special court allowed the convicts home food,mattresses,medicines,mobile commodes and table fans.
Their lawyer Farhana Shah moved an application to retain both in Mumbai prisons but judge Sanap said it was up to the jail authorities.
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