Days before being punished, 1993 blast convict Dossa dies in hospital

Mustafa Dossa, convicted in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case and a close aide of fugitive Dawood Ibrahim, died of cardiac arrest on Wednesday afternoon at the Sir Jamshedji Jeejeebhoy (JJ) Hospital.

Dossa died just a day after the CBI had sought death penalty for his involvement in the blasts and days ahead of his sentencing. He was admitted in the jail ward early on Wednesday morning after he complained of breathlessness. Dossa was later shifted to the coronary care unit (CCU) of the hospital. “Mustafa Dossa had complained of chest pain and had uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes and urinary tract infection. He was also running high fever,” said senior doctor.

“Dossa was brought to the hospital at 12.30 am with a high fever and chest pain. Later, he was admitted to the jail ward of the hospital at 3 am,” said Dr Tatyarao Lahane, Dean of JJ Hospital. “On Wednesday morning he suffered a cardiac arrest. He died at 2.30 pm,” Dr Lahane added.

“A panel of three doctors will be conducting the postmortem which would be recorded on camera. As of now, we are pursuing the formalities like documentation after which the autopsy would be performed,” said Dr. Lahane. Dossa’s body would be handed over to his family after the autopsy.

Dossa had a history of cardiac problems and had also undergone a bypass surgery some time back.

As Indrani rose up to speak, the bruises above her elbow were visible. Raising the issue of inmate Manju Shetye being beaten up, Indrani told the court, “I saw a saree tied to her (Manju) neck as the jail superintendent and other staff dragged her two storeys above. They even pulled her by her hair. After a while we heard loud screams from upstairs.

Indrani informed the court that she and others asked about Manju Shetye the next morning, but were told nothing. At night, the superintendent switched off the lights and closed the doors of the barrack. “We were lathicharged not just be female officers but also male members. I was hit on my hands, legs and head,” Indrani pleaded. She pointed to the injury on her elbow and said that three doctors from JJ Hospital were called in to examine her the next morning.

Indrani alleged that the police do not want her to be a witness in the murder of Shetye.

Justice Jagdale in his order asked the authorities to take her to JJ Hospital for medical examination and then to Nagpada police station where Indrani could lodge her complaint.

While leaving the court premises Indrani in her gritty style told Free Press Journal, “I am not good, but I will fight till the end.”