1993 blast accused gets bail

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May 16, 2006 18:48 IST

A designated Terrorist And Disruptive activities Act court has granted interim bail for a month on compassionate ground to Farooq Motorwala, accused in the 1993 bomb blast case, who has been in custody since 1995.

The permission was granted by designated judge P D Kode on May 12 on a plea made by Motorwala'a lawyer Farhana Shah. The accused pleaded for bail saying he had to perform the marriage ceremony of his daughter and added that he had been in custody for the last 11 years.

The court has asked Motorwala to surrender on June 14 without fail. It also warned the accused not to misuse the bail conditions. The judge has warned the accused to refrain from meeting any absconding accused and to ensure that he was represented by a lawyer during proceedings in his absence.

Motorwala is facing the charge of conspiracy in the 1993 serial blasts along with other accused. He is also facing the charge of sending co-accused to Pakistan en-route Dubai for training at the instance of prime conspirator Dawood Ibrahim.

An accused-turned-approver, Mohammed Jamil, has told the court that he was sent to Pakistan via Dubai by Motorwala to undergo arms training. However, he returned mid-way from Dubai without obtaining training in handling firearms. About 124 accused are facing the trial. Eightysix of them have got bail while others are in custody.

The court is engaged in preparations to give the verdict. Altogether 257 people were killed and 713 injured when a series of blasts shattered 13 places in the city damaging property worth Rs 27 crores on March 12, 1993.

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