New Delhi: The hearings on the appeals
against the TADA Court verdict in the 1993 Mumbai serial
blasts case is likely to take place by year end as CBI today
told the Supreme Court that it has digitalised the voluminous
records of the case.
"We have completed the digitalisation of orginal
records and in another six weeks hard copies will be ready,"
Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium, appearing for CBI told a
Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice B
S Chauhan.
He said the appeals can be heard after the copies are
supplied to the concerned parties.
However, senior advocate Mukul Rohtagi, who has been
appearing for some of the convicts, expressed his apprehension
that CBI would not stand by its commitment saying that it has
been almost a year when the appeals were admitted.
The court adjourned the matter for six weeks.
The TADA court in Mumbai had convicted 100 accused out
of 123 who were chargesheeted for the serial blasts.
Twelve persons were awarded death sentence and 24
were handed down life imprisonment.
Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt was absolved under the
offence of TADA but was held guilty of illegal possession of a
weapon under the Arms Act and was awarded six years
imprisonment.
Bureau Report
