Reprieve for Madhani,HC upholds acquittal in blasts case

The serial bomb blasts at Coimbatore in 1998,apparently targeting senior BJP leader L K Advani,had claimed 56 lives. The former deputy PM escaped as his flight was delayed. The special court set up to try the accused in the serial blast case had found 70 persons guilty and awarded sentences ranging from three years to life imprisonment to 42 people.

Three months ago,in connection with the birth centenary celebration of DMK founder and former Chief Minister C N Annadurai,the Tamil Nadu Government had set free 10 persons who were undergoing their prison sentences. The decision had led to a furore in the state though the controversy died down soon after it became clear that the 10 had only few months left to complete their sentence. Madhani spent nearly a decade in prison after being accused in the case.

Soofiya in judicial custody,parties make her rallying point for Muslims

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:

Soofiya Madhani,who had been arrested in connection with the burning of a Tamil Nadu bus to exert pressure on government for the release of her husband and chairman of Peoples Democratic Party Abdul Nazer Madhani,was on Friday remanded in judicial custody for two weeks by a magistrate court at Aluva near Kochi. Soofiya was questioned by a police team led by Kochi City Commissioner Manoj Abraham. The police claimed Soofiya had confessed to the conspiracy behind torching the bus,which a Kerala High Court Bench termed an act of terrorism.

Meanwhile,Soofiya has been made a rallying point of Muslim sentiment in Kerala by parties cutting across the political divide, prompting the Congress and other opposition leaders who had strongly demanded that Soofiya be arraigned as an accused in the case to suddenly lower their guns. Jama-at-Islami Kerala chief T Arifali took a strong objection to the Madhani family being painted as a terror group. Special prayers were held during Friday namaz at many mosques in Kerala to pledge solidarity with Soofiya.