Dawood: Conspiracy link

Mumbai, May 30: A man who confessed to plotting the 1993 Bombay blasts face-to-face with Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger Memon today escaped the gallows thanks to his advanced age.

Eighty-three-year-old Dawood Phanse, who has spent 13 years in prison and cannot walk without help, has been jailed for life and fined Rs 2 lakh by an anti-terror court.

“He is one of the main conspirators but because of his age, I am not awarding him the maximum punishment (death),” judge P.D. Kode said.

Phanse, alias Dawood Mohammed Taklya, had confessed to attending a meeting in Dubai on January 19-20, 1993, where Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger allegedly asked him to smuggle weapons and explosives to Mumbai.

“Dawoodbhai said mujhe chemical, barood aur hathiyar bhejna hain, Babri Masjid shahid hui, uska badla lena hain (Dawood said he would send chemicals, explosives and weapons to avenge the Babri demolition),” states Phanse’s confession, the lone testimony to link Dawood Ibrahim to the blasts that killed 257 and injured 713.

Phanse was the chief landing agent for the arms and explosives. Muzammil Umer Kadri, who played a key role in the arms landings and their transportation, and hid a cache of 16 AK-56 rifles, too got life.

Six others, including a Rhodes scholar from the royal family of Tonk in Rajasthan, received sentences ranging from five to 10 years.

Ahmed Shah Khan alias Salim Durrani alias Salim Tonk got five years and a fine of Rs 25,000 for possessing an AK-56. Khalil Ahmed Sayed Ali Nasir, involved in the arms landings, was awarded 10 years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh.

Mohammed Dawood Khan and Mohammed Botomiya, each convicted of possessing an AK-56 and magazines, got six years. Aziz Ahmed Shaikh, found in possession of a US-made carbine, got five years. They were fined Rs 25,000 each.

Liyakat Ali Khan, who stored explosives in his father’s godown, got five years.

Kode had bad news for some of the 69 accused seeking parity with actor Sanjay Dutt, who has sought probation citing good conduct and previous clean record. The judge said those convicted under anti-terror law Tada cannot get probation.

“Probation Tada mein nahin lagta (Probation doesn’t apply to Tada convicts),” he said.

Sanjay has been acquitted of the graver charges under the Indian Penal Code and Tada and convicted only under the Arms Act for possessing firearms.