1993 blasts: Four more convicted

The 4 are guilty of aiding mastermind Tiger Memon in bringing arms to Mumbai, reports Mustafa Plumber.

The Special TADA court on Friday convicted four persons for aiding and abetting prime conspirator Tiger Memon in landing arms and ammunition at Shekhadi and facilitating their transportation to the city.

Of the four convicted two were former businessmen who helped Tiger in his smuggling business while one was an aide of extradited gangster Abu Salem. 

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Judge Pramod Kode convicted Raju Laxmichand Jain alias Raju Kodi and Farooq Motorwala, Ayub Patel and Mujib Parkar son of convicted landing agent Sharif Parkar.

Judge Kode held Jain guilty for the charge of providing his four jeeps, which were purchased in fake names and used for the purpose of transportation of arms and ammunition from Shekhadi. He was also held guilty of providing his scooter which was used to plant a bomb at Katha Bazaar in which four persons were killed and several injured.  

Judge Kode convicted him based on the confessional statement given by him in which, he has stated that he used to sell the gold and silver smuggled by Tiger Memon and got a commission from him.

Judge Kode acquitted him from the charge of conspiracy stating that Jain was not part of the “inner circle of the blast conspiracy and there was no evidence to show of his association to Tiger Memon in the blast. Though he had given his four jeeps to Tiger he had no knowledge of it being used for transportation of explosives purpouse.”

A visibily relived Jain who remained in custody for 7 years till he was released on bail was taken into custody. The next in the dock was Ayub Ibrahim Patel, close associate of gangster Abu Salem who is also an accused in the murder of Ajit Deewani former secretary of Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala. Judge Kode convicted Patel for the charge of possessing 20 hand grenades at his house in Oshiwara.

The conviction was based on the evidence of the paanch and recovery officers’ evidence. The court acquitted Patel for conspiracy as the prosecution had failed to provide any evidence.  

The next was another aide of Tiger Memon and former dealer in smuggled goods Farooq Motorwala. The court convicted him for the charge of conspiracy and visiting Dubai on a fictitious passport and attending conspiracy meeting, which were held there. Motorwala who was out on interim bail was taken into custody.

The last one in the dock was Mujib Parkar, as he entered the dock he pleaded before the court “Sir aaj maat lo mera, meine ghar pe nahin bataya hai”, (Sir please don’t pronounce my judgment, I have not informed my house).

However, Judge Kode told him that while granting you bail it was clearly recorded in the order that you will be present before the court when required. Then immediately Judge Kode read out the charges against Parkar and convicted him for purchasing gunny bags in fictitious names which were used in smuggling the arms and ammunition into the city and facilitating in the transportation of arms and ammunition. 

Email Mustafa Plumber: mustafa.plumber@hindustantimes.com