The Bombay High Court on Friday confirmed the death sentence of three Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives, including a couple, accused of the twin blasts in Mumbai in 2003 claiming the lives of 52 persons and injuring over 100.
Two bombs went off at the Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar after the accused left them in the taxis to explode on August 25, 2003. It was the first time that a married couple was involved in the attack. Five accused were arrested in the case. They have been charged with two more terror attacks – a bomb blast in a bus at Ghatkopar in July 28, 2003; and an unexploded bomb at the Seepz Bus Depot planted on December 2, 2002.
On Friday, a Division Bench of Justices A.M. Khanvilkar and P.D. Kode confirmed the death penalty of Ashrat Shafiq Ansari (34), Mohammad Hanif Abdul Rahim Sayyed (46) and his wife Fahmida Sayyed (43).
But the court partially quashed the order of the lower court discharging two other accused, Hassan Batteriwala and Rizwan Ladduwala, on the basis of a report of the POTA review committee. They will have to face trial for the crimes registered against them under IPC. The two accused have been directed by the High Court to appear before the POTA court in four weeks. All the accused have been given eight weeks to file an appeal in the Supreme Court. The conviction order will be stayed till then.
On August 6, 2009, the special POTA court convicted the three accused and sentenced them to death. Ladoowala and Batterywala were discharged from the case after the apex court upheld a POTA review committee report which stated that no case could be made out.
The fact that he is eager to defend himself shows that humane within him have woke up. Being in isolation for long and also having witness the massacre of 26/11,might have realized true message of God and worth of his life and others too.
yes take ur time...i think the time given to accused to file an appeal in the Supreme Court is very less.
It should be atleat -6 years..they have done agreat job by killing our people..why dont government provide them some gallantry award and congress can even thik of giving them ticket in this election
SC is most likely to uphold this. But there is no use. PC and his Home Ministry will use the FIFO rule and ensure the punishment is never carried out.
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