Court slams CBI for not bringing main culprits to book

Noting that even two decades after the 1993 blasts in the city, the investigating agency had not taken any steps to bring the alleged prime perpetrators — Dawood Ibrahim, Tiger Memon and Mohammad Dossa — as well as 30 other absconding accused to justice, designated TADA Judge G A Sanap has come down heavily on the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and asked the agency to file a progress report on March 19.

"The CBI has failed to show the interest it did during the trial of the first batch of accused... Records reveal that the investigating agency has not filed any progress report or given any indication on the prospect of arrests of the 33 absconding accused," the judge observed in the order on Monday.

On March 12, 1993 a series of bombs exploded in Mumbai causing 237 deaths, injuring as many as 713. As many as 27 criminal cases were registered, and on completion of investigation, a chargesheet was filed against 198 accused — with 45 of them shown as absconders.

"Main culprits who masterminded the blast have not been arrested... Proclamation notices were issued long back. The concerned officer has not submitted the progress report of the further investigations and also steps taken to arrest these accused," the court observed while passing this suo-moto order, marking the 19 th anniversary of the serial blasts.

The court has concluded the trial against 127 accused. A few other accused arrested during the trial are being separately tried, including extradited gangster Abu Salem.

The court observed that the defence and the prosecution had made it difficult for the court to function normally. "On several occasions, the matter is carried to the apex court... The witnesses are not brought to the court. Many witnesses are not available for the trial," the order reads.

... contd.

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