This is not closure as some are still absconding: Salvi
After 24 years, the 1993 serial blasts case has reached its conclusion after Judge Govind Sanap, the special judge for TADA court, pronounced sentence for the five accused in the second part of the trial. Speaking with Neeta Kolhatkar of the Free Press Journal, Special Public Prosecutor Deepak
Salvi, the man behind the second part of 1993 trial, emphasises that the sentence is crucial, especially, in the case of those criminals who are wanted and accused and are not named in the first charge-sheet.
Q. Are you satisfied with the judgment after 24 years? A. Tahjir Merchant and Feroze Abdul Rashid Khan have been given death penalty. As far as these death sentences are concerned, yes, I am satisfied with the verdict. Karimullah Khan and Abu Salem have been granted life sentences. Riyaz Siddiqui has got 10 years.
As far regards the life sentences are concerned, I will have to go through the details of the judgment before I can comment on whether we will go in for an appeal or not.
Q. Is the case closed now? A. There are accused who are still absconding and unless they are convicted, there cannot be a closure. Even if the accused has got death sentence after 24 years, it is still not a closure.
Q. How does the sentence in today’s case have an impact on the “settled law” issue? Would it help to name people like Dawood and Tiger Memon in this case? A. This judgment is useful and has significance but has to be confirmed and approved by the Supreme Court, so that it becomes the “settled law”. This is important for cases like bomb blasts, where the masterminds like Dawood and Tiger Memon can be tried later on based on this judgment, once approved by the Supreme Court. Even those who are unnamed in the first chargesheet can be tried now if the SC expeditiously approves of this law. And yes people like them can be tried.