Kin of 1993 blasts accused go to high court over passports

The Bombay high court has directed the Regional Passport Office to reconsider within six weeks the passport renewal application of the wife and daughter of an absconding accused in the 1993 serial bomb blasts case.

The Bombay high court has directed the Regional Passport Office to reconsider within six weeks the passport renewal application of the wife and daughter of an absconding accused in the 1993 serial bomb blasts case.

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Razia Salim Gazi, wife of fugitive Salim Gani Gazi, and their daughter Sana Salim Gazi, recently approached the high court after both were issued new passports with a restriction that it was valid only for travel between India and the UAE.

“The restrictions were placed only because Razia was married to Salim Gani Gazi, who is still an absconding accused in the blasts case,” the petition stated.

Razia got married to Gazi in 1983 and had two daughters. However, Gazi, who was named an accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts case, abandoned his family.

“Razia and her daughters moved to Dubai with the help of her brother where she started a computer business. Sana, who is now 25 years old, now wants to pursue higher studies in London,” the petition clai-med.

According to the petition, a Shariah court in the UAE granted a divorce to Razia in May 2009 on grounds of prolonged absence of her husband. “As neither Razia nor Sana have anything to do with Gazi anymore, the passport office should issue them fresh passports without any restrictions,” the petition said.