One more held guilty for '93 Mumbai blasts

A designated Terrorist And Disruptive Activities (Prevention Act) court on Wednesday held Mohammed Mushtaq Musa Tarani, a close aide of 1993 blasts' prime conspirator Tiger Memon, guilty of all charges, including triggering a blast in a five-star hotel in which three persons were injured on March 12 1993.

Tarani was also found guilty of attending a conspiracy meeting at hotel Taj Mahal in Mumbai along with Tiger Memon and others and surveying terror targets (Bombay Stock Exchange and Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai building).

He was convicted under section 3 (3) of TADA (P) Act for parking an RDX-laden scooter at Shaikh Memon street in south Mumbai which did not explode and section 120-B of IPC for conspiracy.

The court accepted the confession of Tarani and also considered evidence given by witnesses, who identified him as an accused.

Tarani was convicted under section 3 (2) (ii) of TADA for placing an RDX-laden bag in a suitcase in room number 3078 of hotel Centaur in Juhu, injuring three persons and damaging property to the tune of Rs 2.10 crore.

He was also convicted under various provisons of IPC and Explosive Substances Act.

While conspirators of the 1993 blasts were successful in their design to cause an explosion at Bombay Stock Exchange, their plan to open indiscriminate firing at Shiv Sena corporators in MCGM did not materialise as the attackers fled mid-way leaving behind weapons in a car at Worli in central Mumbai.

In furtherance to the conspiracy, Tarani had gone to hotel Centaur in suburban Juhu and placed an RDX-laden bag in a room, which exploded soon thereafter injuring Sunil Sahani, Ketan Shah and Pragnya Shah.

Tarani was charged with sections 120-b IPC (conspiracy), 307 IPC (attempt to murder), 324 IPC (causing hurt), 435 IPC (damage to property) and 436 IPC (damage to hotel building).

He was also charged with sections 3 (3) and 3(2)(i) of TADA (P) Act which deal with aiding and abetting terrorist acts and committing terrorist acts respectively. Tarani is also facing the charges under section 3 and 4(a)(b) of Explosive Substances Act.