There are 123 accused and the court has recorded over 13,000 pages of oral evidence, 7,000 pages of documentary evidence, 135 confessions and 686 witness statements. The case has been on for 13 years now. All eyes are on the extradited underwolrd don Abu Salem and film star Sanjay Dutt, who are among the 123 accused. Mumbai is on a high alert to prevent any possible flare up after the verdict is announced. Given below is a brief chronology of the case that has dragged on for 13 agonising years.
Mumbai blasts: the long drawn trial
After a 13-year-long agonising wait, a special Mumbai court will finally deliver its verdict in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case on September 12.
The serial blasts on March 12, 1993 had claimed more than 257 lives and left thousands injured.
While the gory sights of death and destruction at the Air-India building in the posh Nariman Point area, at Mumbai Stocks Exchange and at Century Bazar in Worli have since been forgotten, the trial has been dragging on and on.
The investigations and trial proved too voluminous. Till the end, the prosecution presented approximately 43,000 pages as part of its chargesheet and evidence.
The court has thus far recorded more than 13,000 pages of oral evidence, more than 7,000 pages of documentary evidence and secured 135 confessions and 686 witness statements.
Separate trials of Abu Salem, Riyaz Siddiqui and Mustafa Majnoo were ordered. The main accused - Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Shakeel, Anees Ibrahim, Mushtaq Memon, and Tiger Memon - are among the 35 others, who are yet to be brought to book.
During the protracted trial, two accused - including Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi - were discharged by the court.
The CBI had taken over the investigation soon after the blasts and filed its first chargesheet in November 1993 itself. At least 30 accused have been in jail ever since the blasts occurred in 1993. Some of the witnesses examined by the prosecution turned hostile.
Sanjay Dutt Angle: Film actor Sanjay Dutt is charged with possessing an AK-56 rifle and later destroying it with the help of his friends. However, the actor has denied the charge by retracting his statement to the police.
On August 10, the designated TADA judge P D Kode had begun dictating the verdict and had said that court would pronounce judgement on September 12.
All the accused in March 12, 1993 blasts, including those out on bail, have been asked to be present in the court when the judge is expected to deliver the verdict.
Meanwhile, one of the accused, Abu Salem has moved the Supreme Court challenging the order of TADA court separating his trial from the main blasts trial.
The apex court will hear Salem's plea on September 18. Out of 123 accused people, 94 are on bail and 29 in custody.
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