MUMBAI, 20 June 2007 — The Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (TADA) Act court yesterday afternoon adjourned the sentencing of 16 Mumbai bomb blasts accused till June 21 after the lawyers for the convicts moved the TADA court citing a Supreme Court judgment of Justice Markandey Katju in which the judge had said that punishing TADA accused even when the act has expired could be a violation of Article 14 of the constitution.
Defense lawyer Farhana Shah told designated TADA Judge P.D. Kode that in view of the judgment of Justice Katju, the present case related to the 16 convicts could best be referred to the Supreme Court or the Bombay High Court and proceeding stayed till then. Shah said that Section 1(4) of TADA Act clearly states that the act would remain in operation till May 24, 1995 and from the next day its provisions were inapplicable.
Countering the arguments of Shah, Special Public Prosecutor Ujwal Nikam said that the statements made by the Supreme Court Justice Katju were merely the expressions of opinion of the Supreme Court, and thus were not binding.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra police yesterday sounded a state of high alert and beefed up security at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur, at the Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai and the Sai Baba temple in Shrirampur town following alleged letter threats to blow up these places.
Following advice from the police, the Siddhivinayak and Sai Baba temples have stopped accepting offerings in the form of flowers, garlands and coconuts from the devotees.
Also yesterday, Rakesh Maria assumed charge as the chief of the elite crime branch of Mumbai Police. Speaking to the media, Maria said: “There are several challenges. Earlier we dealt with the underworld, but now we have to deal with terrorism as well.” Maria comes at a time when the crime branch suffered a blow last week as Iqbal Kaskar, brother of Dawood Ibrahim, was acquitted in the Sara-Sahara case.
