This Article is From Jul 27, 2009

Mumbai twin blasts case: A chronology

Mumbai:

Following is the chronology of the 2003 twin blasts case at Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar:

August 25, 2003: Blasts at Zaveri Bazaar and Gateway of India in south Mumbai in which 52 killed and 100 injured.

August 31, 2003: Three accused Ashrat Ansari (32), Hanif Sayed (46) and his wife Fehmida Sayed (43) arrested.

October 1, 2003: Two more accused, Mohammed Ansari Ladoowala and Mohammed Hasan Batterywala, held.

October 2, 2003: Another accused Zaheer Patel (name changed as he later became approver in case) arrested.

February 5, 2004: Chargesheet filed against six accused in the case in Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) court for Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar blasts. Accused also alleged to have been involved in placing an unexploded bomb in a bus at SEEPZ in suburban Andheri in December 2, 2002 and placing bomb in bus at Ghatkopar in July 8, 2003 in which two persons were killed.

May 5, 2004: Patel declared approver and pardoned by POTA court.

June 20, 2004: Charges framed by court against five accused.

September 2, 2004: Trial commences.

December 2008: Ladoowala and Batterywala discharged from the case by POTA court after Supreme Court upholds POTA review committee report stating no case against them.

July 27, 2009: Three accused Ashrat Ansari, Hanif Sayed and his wife Fehmida Sayed convicted by special POTA court under sections of IPC, POTA, Explosives Act, Explosive Substances Act. Court says arguments on quantum of sentence to be heard on August 4.

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