Reprieve for 1993 blasts convict

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the death sentence of Abdul Ghani Turk, responsible for killing 88 people during the 1993 serial bombing in Mumbai, by parking an RDX-filled jeep near Century Bazaar.

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the death sentence of Abdul Ghani Turk, responsible for killing 88 people during the 1993 serial bombing in Mumbai, by parking an RDX-filled jeep near Century Bazaar.

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The bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan also issued notice to the CBI on the petition. It also issued a notice to the CBI on the petition of Shaikh Ali Shaikh Umar who has been sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the blasts conspiracy. Turk is the sixth convict to have challenged the conviction and have his death sentence stayed.

Hope for Indian prisoner in Lahore
The Centre claimed on Monday that Pakistan has not provided consular access to an Indian prisoner who has spent 22 years in jail despite Islamabad agreeing to set him free last August.

Gopal Dass, who is over 60 years, had filed the petition through his brother Anand Vir, and alleged that the UPA government was not taking adequate steps to get him back. Solicitor General, GE Vahanvati, whose assistance was sought in the matter by the court, said a judicial committee was working out the modalities for the release of their nationals. Accepting Vahanvati’s plea, the bench agreed to hear the case in August.

Petition in Bachchan case dismissed
The court on Monday dismissed the petition of Braj Bhushan Dubey, who had sought information regarding the controversial advertisement done by Amitabh Bachchan for the UP government during Mulayam Singh’s regime.

Dubey had moved the Court after his plea was dismissed by the State Information Commission and the Allahabad High Court. The Commission had refused to part with the information sought by him on the ground that it was already in the public realm. The Allahabad court had upheld this decision.