2005 Delhi serial blast convict Tariq Dar granted bail in money laundering case

Tariq Ahmed Dar, the sole convict in the 2005 Delhi serial blasts case, will walk out of jail a free man late on Monday after being granted bail in a related money-laundering case.

Tariq Ahmed Dar, the sole convict in the 2005 Delhi serial blasts case, will walk out of jail a free man late on Monday after being granted bail in a related money-laundering case.

Tariq Ahmed Dar was on February 16, 2017, convicted in the 2005 Delhi serial blast case and awarded 10 years in jail. However, he has already served 11 years since being arrested in connection with the case. (HT File Photo)

A Delhi court noted Dar’s prosecution for economic offences was based on the same banking transactions relied upon by the prosecution to charge him under stringent anti-terror law provisions in the main Delhi blasts case.

He was cleared of those charges last Thursday while being convicted under minor sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Additional sessions judge Reetesh Singh also noted that Dar had already served more than five years in jail for offences with a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment.

“In these facts and circumstances…I admit him to bail subject to him furnishing a personal bond of Rs 25,000 with one surety of the like amount,” he said.

With this, Dar has either been acquitted or been given bail in all cases against him.

He was cleared of major charges such as murder, conspiracy, collecting arms and waging war against the state – which carried a maximum sentence of death – after the court observed Delhi Police “miserably failed” to prove the charges.

Though the court didn’t convict Dar on charges framed by police but said he was found guilty for other offences – being a part of a terrorist organisation and providing support to such an outfit – under the UAPA. Two other men – Mohammed Rafiq Shah and Mohammed Hussain Fazili – were acquitted of all charges.

Though the court didn’t convict Dar on charges framed by police but said he was found guilty for other offences --- being a part of a terrorist organisation and providing support to such an outfit.

Dar was working as a sales representative of a multinational firm when he was arrested by Delhi Police’s special cell from Srinagar on November 10, 2005. A father of two girls, Dar was returning from work to his pregnant wife when four men in civilian clothes stopped him and whisked him away before formally arresting him.

Delhi Police accused the BSc graduate of serving as the spokesperson, finance manager and conspirator of the Lashkar-e-Taiba.