The 1993 explosions: 12 blasts that changed Mumbai forever

Mustafa Dossa
The name of Mustafa Ahmed Umar Dossa alias Mustara Majnu was revealed during a probe in 1995 and hence it did not appear in the first chargesheet. The TADA court issued proclamation against Dossa on August 29, 1997. The CBI/STF arrested Dossa on March 20, 2003 at the IGI airport on his arrival from Dubai. The court framed  charges against him on January 9, 2004. He was charged with attending and participating in a conspiratorial meeting at the residence of absconding accused Mohammad Dossa in Dubai during the period between December 1992 and January 1993.

Abu Salem
The Tada court had issued a proclamation against Abu Abdul Qayoom Salem on September 15, 1993. He was detained in Lisbon, Portugal on September 18, 2002 and extradited to India on November 11, 2005. Charges were framed against him on December 9, 2005. He has been charged with going to Bharuch, Gujarat in the second week of January 1993 with absconding accused Aziz Bilakhia in a Maruti to pick up arms and explosives. He allegedly transported the same in Mumbai via Bhiwandi and Thane concealed in false cavities of a Maruti van which was allegedly given to him by co-accused Riyaz Ahmed Siddique.

Karimullah Khan
The name of Karimullah Usman Khan alias Karimullah Hussain Habib Shaikh  Karimullah appeared in first chargesheet. He was absconding and hence TADA court declared him proclaimed offender on October 15, 1993. The Mumbai city police arrested him on August 21, 2008 and handed him over to the CBI the next day.

Karimullah has been charged for abetment and assistance in porting arms, ammunition and explosives at Shekhadi jetty and also assisting the distribution of said arms to various persons. He also allegedly obtained a driving licence by forging  documents and medical certificates.

Taher Merchant
Taher Mohammed Merchant alias Taklya’s name appeared in the first chargesheet. TADA court termed him a proclaimed offender on October 15, 1993. On the request of the Indian government, the UAE government handed over Merchant to the CBI in Abu Dhabi on June 7, 2010 around midnight and he was brought to Mumbai on June 8, 2010. He has been charged with attending conspiracy meets in Dubai and motivating associates to arrange for men from Mumbai to be sent for training in handling of arms and explosives in Pakistan. He arranged for stay and visas of co-accused who went to Dubai with the object of receiving arms training.

Firoz Khan
The name of Firoz Abdul Rashin Khan alias Hamza Abdul Rashid Khan appears in the first chargesheet. He was declared a proclaimed offender on October 15, 1993. Firoz was arrested at Koparkhirane by the Mumbai city police on February 5, 2010.

He has been charged with attending a meeting at Hotel Persian Darbar at Panvel on January 6, 2003.

In this meeting, customs officers allegedly agreed to allow Mohammad Dossa and his associates to carry on with their smuggling activities in their jurisdiction on payment of illegal gratification. Due to this, illegal arms and ammunition landed at Dighi jetty.

Riyaz Siddiqui
Riyaz Siddiqui was charged under provisions of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) for criminal conspiracy to commit a terrorist act in India. He was acquitted of charges under section 3(3), 3(2) (i) (ii), section 3 sub section (4) (5) of TADA, which deal with terror activities. The court says it believes that the prosecution had failed to prove charges against Siddiqui for conspiracy. Court has said it found Siddiqui guilty under TADA, but not for conspiracy.

He was arrested on August 2, 2005, and charged with transporting explosives in a van, which were later used in the blasts.

Abdul Shaikh (A)
It was alleged that Abdul Qayyum Shaikh had procured arms and grenades along with co-accused Anees Ibrahim and sent them to India for the blasts. He was charged under provisions of Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA). The common charge, like the others, is that the accused entered into a criminal conspiracy to commit a terrorist act in India. He was acquitted of charges under sections 3(3), 3(2) (i) (ii), section 3 sub section (4) (5) of TADA; 120 (B), 302, 307, 326, 436, 201 and 212 of the IPC; sections 25 1(a) and 1(b) (a) of the Arms Act; and sections 9 (b) (1) (a) (b) of the Explosives Act, among other charges.