The designated TADA court on Thursday held Parvez Nasir Ahmed Shaikh guilty of causing explosions at Katha Bazaar in south Mumbai and Hotel Sea Rock during the 1993 serial bomb blasts.
Shaikh, an aide of Tiger Memon, was found guilty of parking an RDX-laden scooter on March 12, 1993, at Katha Bazaar at Pydhonie which had exploded killing four persons and injuring 21 besides damaging property worth Rs 37 lakh.
He was also found guilty of placing an RDX-laden bag in one of the rooms at Hotel Sea Rock, which exploded damaging property worth Rs nine crore.
In Katha Bazaar blasts, Shaikh was found guilty under IPC sections 302 (murder), 307 IPC (attempt to murder), 324 IPC (causing hurt), 435 IPC (damage to property) and 436 IPC (damage to property in Katha Bazaar). He was also held guilty of conspiracy in the serial blasts, that had claimed 257 lives and left 713 injured on March 12, 1993.
Shaikh was found guilty of participating in landing operations of arms and ammunitions which had arrived at Shekhadi coast in Raigad district on February 3 and 7, 1993.
He was also found guilty of filling RDX in vehicles which were planted at various places on the day of the blasts.
Shaikh is the ninth to be convicted in the blast case. The others convicted include four members of the Memon family. He faces punishment ranging from five years to life and even death.
However, the court acquitted him on two counts—participating in arms training at Sandheri and Bhorghat villages in Raigad district and transporting weapons from Jogeshwari to Musafirkhana in Mumbai prior to the serial blasts.
Shaikh was also found guilty of causing an explosion in Hotel Sea Rock by planting a bag with explosives in one of the rooms, which exploded causing damage to property worth Rs nine crore.
There was, however, no loss of life in the blast.
For the Sea Rock blasts, he was convicted under Section 3 (2) (i) of TADA (P) (committing terrorist Act), Section 436 IPC (damage to property), Section 307 IPC (attempt to murder). Section 3 and 4 (a) (b) of Explosive Substance Act and Section 9-B (1) (b) of Explosive Act.