'93 blasts: Pervez Shaikh convicted

A designated TADA court, hearing the 1993 serial bomb blasts case, on Thursday held Tiger Memon aide Pervez Nazir Ahmed Shaikh convicted of causing an explosion in Katha Bazaar in 1993 by parking a scooter, which killed four persons.

Shaikh was also held guilty of conspiracy and participating in landing operations of arms and ammunitions, which arrived at Shekhadi coast in Raigad district on February 3 and 7, 1993.

Besides, he was found guilty of filling RDX in vehicles, which were planted at various places on the day of the blasts, in which altogether 257 people were killed and 713 injured on March 12, 1993.

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 convicted under Section 3 (2) (i) of TADA (P) Act, (committing terrorist acts) and Section 3 (3) of the same act (aiding and abetting).

He was also convicted under Sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 324 (causing hurt), 435, (causing damage to property), and 436 (causing damage to buildings)

of the Indian Penal Code.

He was found guilty under Section 3 (causing explosion to endanger life), Section 4 (a) and (b) (causing explosions to endanger property) and Section-B (1) (b) of the Explosive Substances Act.

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 9 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.