1993 Mumbai Bomb Blast: March 12, 1993 was a Friday. The Bombay Stock Exchange was in commotion as usual when the basement of the 28-storey building of the exchange shook with a loud explosion at 1.30 pm. Fifty people were killed in the attack, but it was only the beginning. Half an hour later, a second explosion took place in a car and then a series of explosions started. Within two hours, there were 13 explosions at 12 places across Mumbai.
257 people were killed and 713 people were injured in these serial blasts. Even today, the memories of that fateful Friday are fresh in the minds of Mumbaikars. These blasts took place in important places like Shiv Sena Bhavan, Air India Building, Plaza Cinema, Sahara Airport in Mumbai. Earlier there was news of 12 explosions. Later, Sharad Pawar said that not 12 but 13 blasts took place and one blast also happened in a Muslim area.
The main accused has not been caught till date
< p>These blasts took place shortly after the Mumbai riots and were said to be revenge for the riots. Mumbai was shaken by this attack. According to the police, these attacks were carried out by Dawood Ibrahim, a terrorist living outside India. The blast was planned by Tiger Memon. Both have not been caught till date. In this case, the lower court sentenced 12 accused to death. It also included Yakub Memon who was hanged in 2015. Yakub Memon was the brother of the main accused Tiger.
When the name of Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt came up in these blasts, people were not convinced. Sanjay Dutt was convicted by a TADA court in Mumbai in 2006 of possessing AK-56, but was acquitted of other charges.
150 teams for investigation
Investigating the blasts was not easy for the police. The responsibility of the investigation was handed over to Rakesh Maria, a fast-track officer of the Mumbai Police. At that time Maria DCP used to traffic. More than 150 teams were formed for the investigation, which went to different cities and collected evidence. A 10,000-page preliminary charge sheet was filed on 4 November 1993. The case was handed over to the CBI on 19 November 1993.
During the investigation, the police came to know about Bollywood’s involvement as well. Sanjay Dutt has been arrested by the police. Sanjay was shooting for ‘Aatish’ in Mauritius. On his return from there he was arrested. He spent 18 months in prison. During interrogation, Sanjay Dutt admitted to possessing AK-56.
Supreme Court also convicted Sanjay Dutt
Mumbai in November 2006 The TADA court delivered its verdict. Based on the testimony and evidence of 600 people, 100 people including Yakub Memon, Sanjay Dutt were convicted. 23 people were acquitted. Sanjay Dutt was convicted of possessing AK-56, while acquitted in other serious cases. Later, the Supreme Court also found him guilty of possessing illegal arms and sentenced him to 5 years in prison.
Four accused from the same family
Mumbai Of the four persons convicted by the TADA court, only one belonged to the same family. Their names were Yakub Memon, Yusuf Memon, Isa Memon and Rubina Memon. Tiger was his only brother who could never be caught. Tiger, Yakub, Yusuf and Isa were the sons of former cricketer Abdul Razak Memon. Yakub Memon was hanged on 30 November 2015 at Yervada Jail in Mumbai.
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