So what does it mean to lose 13 years of your life, especially if you happen to be a fringe player in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts case?

The porters who unwittingly carried the deadly putty or Sanjay Dutt’s friends, who had no role to play in the conspiracy but were simply helping out a friend when they allegedly destroyed his gun, are the ones who have lost a crucial slice of their lives in this period.

So when special judge Pramod Dattatreya Kode kept his promise and ruled on the first batch of key conspirators, it was a verdict long overdue.

Undoubtedly, the Memons took all of Kode’s time on Day One but the verdict read out against them is indicative of what may follow. The judge is strictly going by the rule book, a throwback to his days as a lawyer in the Thane district and sessions court where he established a reputation as one well-versed in case-histories.

The conviction of Yusuf Memon, who’s mentally challenged, came as a bit of a surprise and it is possible that he may be handed a lighter sentence. The patriarch, Abdul Razzak Memon, is dead. Tiger Memon`s brother Suleman, sister-in-law Rahin and mother Hanifa have been acquitted. That leaves Yakub, Rubeena and Essa. Despite being convicted, Rubeena was allowed to go home and not asked to surrender. Yakub and Essa have already spent over 12 years in jail. The CBI, eagerly awaiting the judgment, was more than happy with the verdict. In fact, the conviction of Essa and Yusuf, two of the least involved Memons, has clearly set the tone for the coming days.

... contd.