A key hitman of Tiger Memon, Mohammed Shoaib Ghansar, prime accused in the 1993 serial blasts that killed 257 people in Mumbai, was on Thursday found guilty of committing terrorist acts by a designated TADA court, taking the number of persons convicted in the case to five.
The 43-year-old had parked an RDX-laden scooter at Zaveri Bazaar jewellery hub that exploded killing 17 people and injured 57 on March 12, 1993.
Judge P D Koda found him guilty of conspiracy and murder as also under the provisions of TADA, various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Explosives Substances Act, Explosives Act and Damage to Properties Act.
The court also found Ghansar, a mechanic, guilty of stuffing RDX in vehicles at Tiger Memon's Al-Husseini Building, which were used to carry out 13 explosions.
He is the fifth of the 123 accused in the case to be convicted. The court on Tuesday had found Tiger Memon's brothers Yakub, Yusuf and Essa and sister-in-law Rubina guilty in the case.
Like other four convicts, Ghansar, currently lodged in Arthur Road jail, is likely to face punishment ranging from five years to life and even death punishment.
Clad in white kurta-pyjama, he seemed to be nervous and was seen holding prayer beads as he appeared in court. The judge said although two witnesses had not identified Ghansar as the accused who had parked the scooter, he was being held guilty as the court accepted his own confession recorded under section 15 of TADA (P) Act.
He said the court had also accepted the circumstantial evidence adduced by the prosecution to prove Ghansar's guilt. The court would hear arguments on quantum of sentence at a later stage.
Tight security was maintained in and around the court, which is housed in central prison at Arthur Road. Policemen frisked reporters and lawyers before letting them inside the court. All the 94 accused on bail, including film actor Sanjay Dutt, did not come to the court as they were exempted from personal appearance.
Twenty-two accused, including Ghansar, held in custody, were brought to the court as they had been summoned. The court, however, delivered verdict only on Ghansar and for the rest it did not give any indication about the judgement but prosecution sources said the judge may deliver verdict for other accused as and when time permits.
Meanwhile, the court will hear arguments today on the quantum of sentence to be awarded to four Memon family members and the hearing may go on tomorrow as well if it does not conclude today, sources said.