Memon aide, customs officials get jail

TADA court declares the quantum of punishment for 7 people who were involved in the Mumbai serial explosions.

Seven people, including a senior customs official and a close aide of absconding mastermind Tiger Memon, were sentenced to prison terms by a special court in Mumbai on Tuesday for their role in the 1993 serial Mumbai blasts.

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Special Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) Court judge Pramod Kode sentenced Jameel Usmail Kadri, a close aide of Tiger Memon, to life imprisonment for his role in conspiracy, and supervising the landing of the RDX and arms at two places in coastal Maharashtra prior to the bombings.

He was also sentenced on two other counts of conspiracy under Section 6 of the TADA Act, which entitles an enhanced punishment of 14 years rigorous imprisonment (RI) and a fine of Rs 60,000. These sentences will run concurrently.

Assistant Commissioner of Customs RK Singh was also sentenced for allowing the contraband, arms and ammunition a safe passage from the landing site to Mumbai.

He was awarded nine years RI and a fine of Rs 300,000, defaulting which he will have to serve an additional four years jail.

Two more customs officials were given awarded eight years rigorous imprisonment and a Rs 200,000, defaulting which they will have to spend two additional years in jail.

The other three people sentenced were also landing agents from whom arms and ammunition were recovered after the blasts.