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Non-bailable warrant against 1993 blasts convict who did not surrender
The designated TADA judge GA Sanap on Saturday issued a non-bailable warrant against Manojkumar Gupta, a close associate of Tiger Memon, after he failed to surrender in court. Another convict, Ranjit Singh, a dismissed assistant customs collector who missed the deadline on Thursday, surrendered on Saturday.
The designated TADA judge GA Sanap on Saturday issued a non-bailable warrant against Manojkumar Gupta, a close associate of Tiger Memon, after he failed to surrender in court. Another convict, Ranjit Singh, a dismissed assistant customs collector who missed the deadline on Thursday, surrendered on Saturday.
Gupta and Singh – convicts in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case – had missed the deadline of four weeks to surrender before the TADA court, after their appeals were dismissed by the Supreme Court on March 21. The duo had to surrender by Thursday. Singh had, however, through his advocate Farhana Shah requested the court for time until Saturday as he had some personal emergency. There was no such communication from Gupta.
The designated court had, on Thursday, said it would wait till Saturday and if the convicts failed to appear, an arrest warrant would be issued. On Saturday, Singh came to court by afternoon and apologised for not meeting the deadline. The dismissed Customs officer (Singh) has been convicted for facilitating the landing of arms and ammunition in Raigad. Singh has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment out of which he has served more than six years before being released on bail.
Pleading innocence and injustice, Singh’s wife said, “My husband is innocent. We will fight till the end for justice.” Singh also had filed a review petition before the apex court against the final order, which was rejected on April 15.
Gupta, however, missed the date again. Gupta was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment by TADA court, which was enhanced to life by the apex court. In 2008, Gupta was released as he had completed 14 years of imprisonment.
Special public prosecutor for CBI, Deepak Salvi, on Saturday moved an application to issue an arrest warrant against Gupta. The court allowed the application.
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