POTA court to pronounce verdict in 2003

A special Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) court will pronounce its verdict in the six-year-old Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar twin blasts case.

On August 25, 2003, two bombs left in taxis exploded in south Mumbai - the Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar in the busy Kalbadevi area, killing 52 people and wounding more than a hundred others.

The court will pronounce its judgment against three accused. They are Haneef Sayyed (46), an auto driver, his wife Fahmeeda (43) and Ashrat Ansari (32).

The attacks were carried out to “avenge” the deaths of Muslims during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

It is the most awaited judgement in a terrorist case after the Special TADA Court completed the March 2, 1993, serial blasts trial in 2007, which led to the conviction of 100 people, including Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt. (ANI)

Three convicted in the 2003 Mumbai twin blasts

Desk-Six years after twin blasts rocked the Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar in 2003 killing 52 people, three persons, including a woman, were today by a special court for the crime on Monday.

Special Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) judge M R Puranik convicted Ashrat Ashrat Ansari (32), Hanif Sayed Anees (46) and his wife Fehmida Sayed (43) who face a maximum sentence of death penalty for their role in carrying out the blasts which also left around 100 injured.


The court said it will hear the arguments of the defence and the prosecution regarding the quantum of sentence to be awarded to the convicted persons on 4th August.


The trio have been convicted under various sections of the IPC for conspiracy, murder and attempt to murder, sections of POTA, Explosive Substances Act and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.


The convicts listened carefully to the judge while the verdict was being pronounced and remained silent.


Three more persons had been arrested for their alleged involvement in the blasts, but one of them turned approver in the case.


Two other accused, Mohammed Ansari Ladoowala and Mohammed Hasan Batterywala, were discharged from the case by POTA court after Supreme Court upheld a POTA review committee report that there was no case against the duo.


On 25th August, 2003, two bombs which were placed in taxis exploded and rocked the iconic Gateway of India and the busy Zaveri Bazaar in South Mumbai.