SC stays death sentence of 2 Mumbai blasts convicts

The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the death sentence of two convicts in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts case.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice R V Raveendran also issued notices to the CBI on the bail applications of four other convicts in the case.

The apex court stayed the death sentences of Mohammed Mushtaq Moosa Tarani and Asgar Yusuf Mukadam.

It also issued notices to the CBI on their appeal against their conviction and sentence in the case.

Four others, on whose bail applications notices were issued by the apex court were Suleman Mohd Kasim Ghavate, Bashir Ahmed Usmani Gani, Dawood alias Dawood Taklya and Farz Ahmed Khan.

The court issued notices after hearing the counsel for the petitioners, who contended that the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act court, Mumbai, had committed a serious error by not appreciating the evidence in the correct perspective and their conviction and sentences were liable to be set aside.

Over 200 people were killed and thousand others injured, when a series of bomb blasts rocked Mumbai on March 12, 1993.

The apex court has already released on bail Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who was given a six-year sentence for possessing illegal arms.