The Special TADA court today found two Customs officers guilty of facilitating a safe passage for the arms, ammunition and explosives, smuggled into the country by Ibrahim Kaskar, Mohammed Dossa and Tiger Memon, which were used in the series of blasts that rocked Mumbai and its suburbs in March 1993. Theirs is the first conviction of Customs officers accused in the case.

Another accused, Ayub Qureshi, was also held guilty by the court for possession of arms and agreeing to conceal the arms that were part of the consignment smuggled in.

Special Judge Pramod Kode said Superintendent (preventive) S S Talwadekar and Inspector (preventive) Jayawant Gurav, who were with the Customs department in Shrivardhan “did not act despite receiving specific information about the smuggling operation and thereby facilitated the commission of a terrorist act by intentionally aiding and abetting the terrorists after accepting money from them”. The judge, however, struck down the charge of criminal conspiracy against them.

Talwadekar was arrested in 1993 and released on bail five years later. Pronouncing the guilty verdict, Judge Kode observed that being a superintendent he was “legally bound to prevent such an activity (smuggling of arms)”.

Regarding the landing operation at Shekadi, Talwadekar’s guilt has been proved to an extent. There was also evidence of him receiving a bribe, which has been corroborated with confessions and evidence from prime witnesses, the judge said. “Everything is ruined if you commit such a serious mistake,” Judge Kode remarked.

The court, however, told the prosecution that “little more evidence was needed which could have proven complete guilt”. Gurav has also served five years in custody. He has been found guilty of piloting two trucks loaded with arms.