PTI | Feb 10, 2012, 05.51PM IST
MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Friday upheld the death sentence of three LeT members, including a couple, in the 2003 twin Mumbai blasts that claimed 52 lives.
A division bench of Justice A M Khanvilkar and P D Kode confirmed the death penalty awarded to Ashrat Ansari (32), Hanif Sayed Anees (46) and his wife Fehmida Sayed (43) but partially quashed the order of the trial court discharging two other accused on the basis of a report of the POTA review committee.
The high court upheld death sentence awarded to them on all three counts of perpetrating terror, criminal conspiracy and murder.
Mohammed Ansari Ladoowala and Mohammed Hasan Batterywala will now have to face trial, but only under IPC charges that had been levelled against them and not under POTA. The court directed them to appear before the trial court in four weeks for proceedings to be initiated.
The bench, however, stayed the sentence for eight weeks to allow the convicts to file an appeal in the Supreme Court, in response to the request of their counsel, Sudeep Pasbola.
The court had on November 12, 2011 reserved its judgement on confirmation of death sentence to the three after agruments concluded at a special hearing.
The three had been found guilty by a POTA court of planting powerful bombs in two taxis which exploded at the iconic Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar on August 25, 2003. They were awarded death sentence on August 6.
The conspiracy for the blasts had been hatched by Hanif, Ashrat, Nasir, a Hyderabad resident, who was later killed in a police encounter, and some Pakistani nationals owing allegiance to LeT in Dubai.
The LeT's role in the twin blasts was revealed by an accused-turned-approver. The approver was given a pardon by the court after public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam submitted a certificate saying he may be discharged.
It was for the first time that LeT had used a family to carry out bomb blasts in the country.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/2003-Mumbai-blasts-HC-upholds-death-sentence-of-3-Lashkar-militants/articleshow/11838208.cms
accessed on 10th February 2012
Showing posts with label Gateway of India. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gateway of India. Show all posts
Friday, February 10, 2012
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Arguments in 2003 twin blast case end, verdict on Dec 12
Press Trust Of India
Mumbai, November 12, 2011
Arguments on confirmation of death sentence awarded to three convicts in the 2003 Mumbai twin bomb blast case concluded on Saturday before the Bombay high court.
Division bench of justices AM Khanvilkar and PD Kode would deliver the verdict on December 12, said advocate Sushan(t) Kunjuraman, defence lawyer. The bench held a special hearing today to hear the final arguments.
Ashrat Ansari (32), Hanif Sayed Anees (46) and his wife Fehmida Sayed (43) were held guilty on charges of planting powerful bombs in two taxis which exploded at Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar respectively on August 25, 2003, killing 52 persons.
The conspiracy had been hatched by Hanif, Ashrat, Nasir (who was later killed in a police encounter) and some Pakistani nationals owing allegiance to LeT in Dubai, as per the prosecution case.
The trio, who belonged to LeT, have also been found guilty by a POTA court for a blast in a municipal bus in suburban Ghatkopar on July 28, 2003, in which two people were killed.
In the present case, the three were convicted under various Sections of IPC, POTA, Explosive Substances Act and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
According to police, LeT used a family (husband-wife) to carry out blasts for the first time in this case. The motive, investigators said, was to seek vengeance for the violence against the minority community during the post-Godhra riots in Gujarat in 2002.
As the convicts were given death sentence by trial court, the matter was sent to the Bombay High Court for confirmation, as required under the law.
Mumbai, November 12, 2011
Arguments on confirmation of death sentence awarded to three convicts in the 2003 Mumbai twin bomb blast case concluded on Saturday before the Bombay high court.
Division bench of justices AM Khanvilkar and PD Kode would deliver the verdict on December 12, said advocate Sushan(t) Kunjuraman, defence lawyer. The bench held a special hearing today to hear the final arguments.
Ashrat Ansari (32), Hanif Sayed Anees (46) and his wife Fehmida Sayed (43) were held guilty on charges of planting powerful bombs in two taxis which exploded at Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar respectively on August 25, 2003, killing 52 persons.
The conspiracy had been hatched by Hanif, Ashrat, Nasir (who was later killed in a police encounter) and some Pakistani nationals owing allegiance to LeT in Dubai, as per the prosecution case.
The trio, who belonged to LeT, have also been found guilty by a POTA court for a blast in a municipal bus in suburban Ghatkopar on July 28, 2003, in which two people were killed.
In the present case, the three were convicted under various Sections of IPC, POTA, Explosive Substances Act and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
According to police, LeT used a family (husband-wife) to carry out blasts for the first time in this case. The motive, investigators said, was to seek vengeance for the violence against the minority community during the post-Godhra riots in Gujarat in 2002.
As the convicts were given death sentence by trial court, the matter was sent to the Bombay High Court for confirmation, as required under the law.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Bombay High Court to conduct 2003 blasts trial via video-conference
The Bombay High Court has become tech-savvy.
After the hearings on the confirmation of the death sentence for Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab were conducted through video-conference — a first-of-its-kind arrangement made in the court to hear proceedings for security reasons, the HC will now conduct the death confirmation proceedings of the 2003 Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar blasts accused the same way.
A huge screen has been put up inside court room no 13, where Justice A M Khanwilkar and Justice P D Kode are presently hearing confirmation proceedings.
Officials involved in the setting up of the video link between the Arthur Road prison and the court said, “The link is being tested and will soon become operational. The court will conduct the proceedings through it.”
The reason for the shift is the huge cost being incurred and the heavy bandobast required to escort the three death row convicts to and from the court.
Two blasts at the Gateway of India and the Zaveri Bazaar had killed 52 people and injured more than 100 on August 25, 2003.
Five persons were arrested. Three — Fehmida, husband Hanif and Ashrat Ansari — were sentenced to death.
Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_bombay-high-court-to-conduct-2003-blasts-trial-via-video-conference_1598132
accessed on 14th October 2011
Published: Thursday, Oct 13, 2011, 8:00 IST
By DNA Correspondent | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA
After the hearings on the confirmation of the death sentence for Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab were conducted through video-conference — a first-of-its-kind arrangement made in the court to hear proceedings for security reasons, the HC will now conduct the death confirmation proceedings of the 2003 Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar blasts accused the same way.
A huge screen has been put up inside court room no 13, where Justice A M Khanwilkar and Justice P D Kode are presently hearing confirmation proceedings.
Officials involved in the setting up of the video link between the Arthur Road prison and the court said, “The link is being tested and will soon become operational. The court will conduct the proceedings through it.”
The reason for the shift is the huge cost being incurred and the heavy bandobast required to escort the three death row convicts to and from the court.
Two blasts at the Gateway of India and the Zaveri Bazaar had killed 52 people and injured more than 100 on August 25, 2003.
Five persons were arrested. Three — Fehmida, husband Hanif and Ashrat Ansari — were sentenced to death.
Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_bombay-high-court-to-conduct-2003-blasts-trial-via-video-conference_1598132
accessed on 14th October 2011
Published: Thursday, Oct 13, 2011, 8:00 IST
By DNA Correspondent | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Death penalty for 2003 Mumbai bombers
An Indian court on Thursday sentenced to death three people, including a married couple, for planting bombs that killed 52 in the city of Mumbai in 2003. Judge M.R. Puranik, sitting at a special anti-terrorism court, ordered that Haneef Sayyed, his wife Fahmeeda Sayyed, and Ashrat Ansari "should be hanged by the neck until dead" for murder, criminal conspiracy and terrorism.All three were convicted last week, six years after bombs exploded at the Gateway of India monument and in the Zaveri Bazaar jewellery quarter.
They stood impassive in the dock as the sentences were handed down. Their lawyers have indicated that they will appeal against the death penalty, which is given rarely in India and is often delayed indefinitely or commuted by the president.
The court had heard the blasts were carried out in retaliation for Hindu atrocities against Muslims during riots in western Gujarat state in 2002 and the trio claimed to be members of the so-called "Gujarat Muslim Revenge Force".
Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam also said they were members of the banned, Pakistan-based Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which was also allegedly behind last year's militant attacks in Mumbai that killed 166 people.
Haneef Sayyed's lawyer had argued that his client should be sent to prison for life without parole. Fahmeeda Sayyed's counsel also argued against the death penalty, saying she was a poor, uneducated woman pressured into committing the crime by her husband out of Muslim duty and was taken along to "camouflage" the group's intentions.
Ansari's lawyer Sushan Kunjuramaran made no submissions but the convicted bomber told the judge he did not agree with the verdict. Prosecutor Nikam rejected the defence arguments, saying the offences fell into the "rarest of rare" category of crimes deemed appropriate for a judge to pass the death sentence.
The meticulously planned and executed bombings, carried out by planting high-explosive devices in the boots of taxis, were of "extreme brutality" and led to the "massacre of innocent people", he told the court. "It would be a mockery of justice if the death penalty is not imposed," he added.
The trial was the biggest anti-terrorism case in the city since the 1993 "Black Friday" bombings in which 257 people were killed and at least 800 others were injured.
Source : http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gnYLqkVMk6Hq5ZDHOcTIwFqKlmpQ
By Phil Hazlewood (AFP)
They stood impassive in the dock as the sentences were handed down. Their lawyers have indicated that they will appeal against the death penalty, which is given rarely in India and is often delayed indefinitely or commuted by the president.
The court had heard the blasts were carried out in retaliation for Hindu atrocities against Muslims during riots in western Gujarat state in 2002 and the trio claimed to be members of the so-called "Gujarat Muslim Revenge Force".
Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam also said they were members of the banned, Pakistan-based Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which was also allegedly behind last year's militant attacks in Mumbai that killed 166 people.
Haneef Sayyed's lawyer had argued that his client should be sent to prison for life without parole. Fahmeeda Sayyed's counsel also argued against the death penalty, saying she was a poor, uneducated woman pressured into committing the crime by her husband out of Muslim duty and was taken along to "camouflage" the group's intentions.
Ansari's lawyer Sushan Kunjuramaran made no submissions but the convicted bomber told the judge he did not agree with the verdict. Prosecutor Nikam rejected the defence arguments, saying the offences fell into the "rarest of rare" category of crimes deemed appropriate for a judge to pass the death sentence.
The meticulously planned and executed bombings, carried out by planting high-explosive devices in the boots of taxis, were of "extreme brutality" and led to the "massacre of innocent people", he told the court. "It would be a mockery of justice if the death penalty is not imposed," he added.
The trial was the biggest anti-terrorism case in the city since the 1993 "Black Friday" bombings in which 257 people were killed and at least 800 others were injured.
Source : http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gnYLqkVMk6Hq5ZDHOcTIwFqKlmpQ
By Phil Hazlewood (AFP)
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Prosecutor pushes for death penalty in Mumbai twin blasts case
Terming it as a 'rarest of the rare' case, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam on Tuesday pushed for the death penalty for the three convicts in the 2003 twin blast case in which 54 person were killed. The quantum of sentence would be pronounced on Thursday.
Last week, the special POTA court convicted a husband-wife team of terrorist module - Mohammed Hanif Sayeed (46) and Fahmeeda (43) and their close aide Arshad Ansari (32) for the twin blasts of Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar.
On Tuesday, Nikam submitted before additional sessions judge M R Puranik that since the case falls under the 'rarest of the rare' case category, all the three convicts should be sent to gallows for committing “heinous and brutal” crime and displaying disregard for human lives.
“The convicts were exceptionally cruel and had total disregard for human lives. The bombings, meticulously planned and executed, were of extreme brutality leading to the massacre of innocent people,” Nikam argued.
He further said that it was the manner or the mode of the murder which attracts death penalty for the trio and argued that the convicts not only killed the innocent but also enjoyed the act of killing. “Thus the convicts loose every right to live,” Nikam contended.
However, defence lawyer Sudeep Pasbola representing Fahmeeda sought lesser punishment for her contending that she had not actively participated in the conspiracy of the blasts. “This cannot be considered as a rarest of the rare case for Fahmeeda as she had acted under the influence of her husband who had asked her to accompany him just to camouflage because woman and children do not cause suspicion,” Pasbola argued. “She is a woman who has to look after her two daughters. In such circumstances, Fahmeeda deserves lesser punishment,” he added.
To this, Nikam argued, “Fahimida, although a woman, participated in the crime willingly and no one had compelled her to assist her husband in terrorist acts.” He cited the judgement of Rajiv Gandhi assassination case in which the convict Nalini was awarded death sentence even though she had delivered a child in the jail.
Defence lawyer Wahab Khan representing Hanif argued that he should be awarded life imprisonment instead of death contending that he had committed the crime under the influence of the members of Lashker-e-Toiba who had indoctrinated him. “Hanif did not have criminal antecedents. He had gone to Dubai to earn bread and butter but was lured into conspiracy by Pakistani nationals after he was shown CDs of atrocities on Muslims,” Wahab said.
The two blasts at Gateway of India, a prominent landmark of this metropolis and Zaveri Bazaar, the glittering gold market of Mumbai - on August 25, 2003 have left 54 dead and 244 injured. RDX-based bombs were placed in taxis to trigger the explosions.
The accused also alleged to have been involved in placing an unexploded bomb in a bus at SEEPZ in suburban Andheri in December 2, 2002 and placing bomb in bus at Ghatkopar in July 28, 2003 in which two persons were killed.
(Source: Tuesday, August 04th, 2009 AT 8:08 PM
Sakal times)
Last week, the special POTA court convicted a husband-wife team of terrorist module - Mohammed Hanif Sayeed (46) and Fahmeeda (43) and their close aide Arshad Ansari (32) for the twin blasts of Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar.
On Tuesday, Nikam submitted before additional sessions judge M R Puranik that since the case falls under the 'rarest of the rare' case category, all the three convicts should be sent to gallows for committing “heinous and brutal” crime and displaying disregard for human lives.
“The convicts were exceptionally cruel and had total disregard for human lives. The bombings, meticulously planned and executed, were of extreme brutality leading to the massacre of innocent people,” Nikam argued.
He further said that it was the manner or the mode of the murder which attracts death penalty for the trio and argued that the convicts not only killed the innocent but also enjoyed the act of killing. “Thus the convicts loose every right to live,” Nikam contended.
However, defence lawyer Sudeep Pasbola representing Fahmeeda sought lesser punishment for her contending that she had not actively participated in the conspiracy of the blasts. “This cannot be considered as a rarest of the rare case for Fahmeeda as she had acted under the influence of her husband who had asked her to accompany him just to camouflage because woman and children do not cause suspicion,” Pasbola argued. “She is a woman who has to look after her two daughters. In such circumstances, Fahmeeda deserves lesser punishment,” he added.
To this, Nikam argued, “Fahimida, although a woman, participated in the crime willingly and no one had compelled her to assist her husband in terrorist acts.” He cited the judgement of Rajiv Gandhi assassination case in which the convict Nalini was awarded death sentence even though she had delivered a child in the jail.
Defence lawyer Wahab Khan representing Hanif argued that he should be awarded life imprisonment instead of death contending that he had committed the crime under the influence of the members of Lashker-e-Toiba who had indoctrinated him. “Hanif did not have criminal antecedents. He had gone to Dubai to earn bread and butter but was lured into conspiracy by Pakistani nationals after he was shown CDs of atrocities on Muslims,” Wahab said.
The two blasts at Gateway of India, a prominent landmark of this metropolis and Zaveri Bazaar, the glittering gold market of Mumbai - on August 25, 2003 have left 54 dead and 244 injured. RDX-based bombs were placed in taxis to trigger the explosions.
The accused also alleged to have been involved in placing an unexploded bomb in a bus at SEEPZ in suburban Andheri in December 2, 2002 and placing bomb in bus at Ghatkopar in July 28, 2003 in which two persons were killed.
(Source: Tuesday, August 04th, 2009 AT 8:08 PM
Sakal times)
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