MUMBAI: Thirteen years after the serial blasts that ripped through Mumbai on March 12, 1993, the verdict in the Bombay blasts case is expected on Tuesday. The speculation that Abu Salem's case in the Supreme Court would delay the judgment further has been put to rest as his lawyer Ashok Sarogi confirmed that they are no longer challenging the separation of trial.

Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told The Hindu that he was confident that the judgment would be delivered on Tuesday. Referring to Salem's case he said, "there is no bar on the judge in Salem's case and the judgment should be delivered tomorrow."

Justice P.D. Kode, the designated judge presiding over the special court under the Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) had passed an order on August 10 fixing September 12 for "delivery of judgment."

Although the trial had concluded in 2003, Abu Salem's extradition from Portugal in November 2005 created a further complication as it was expected that unless he was tried, the verdict would not be delivered. However, Justice Kode separated the two trials and Salem's trial will proceed separately. Salem's lawyersaid, "the Supreme Court will hear our petition on September 18 and we are not pressing for separation of trial. The verdict need not be delayed because of this case."

All the accused, including actor Sanjay Dutt, have been asked to remain present on Tuesday . While over 90 accused are out on bail, around 30 are in custody.

The case into the serial blasts that killed 257 people and injured over 700 has dragged out for over 12 years. After the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the investigation, 686 witnesses have been examined. Since 1995 the trial has been heard on daily basis in the special court made for this trial in the premises of Arthur Road jail. All the accused have been charged with section 120-b (Criminal Conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and several are facing charges under the stringent TADA.

However, key conspirators including Dawood Ibrahim, Tiger Memon and Ayub Memon remain untraceable. Eleven accused have died during the course of the trial.

Commissioner of Police A.N. Roy said that security has been beefed up in the city in view of the expected judgment. He said: "Additional security has been provided around TADA court and other sensitive areas of Mumbai."

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