MUMBAI: The blasts case had five Customs officials on trial as accused, including former additional customs collector (preventive) S K Thapa.
The court had held all five guilty, but none were awarded the death sentence. The SC in 2013 did not enhance their punishment to death by hanging.
Thapa was held guilty of hatching a conspiracy and aiding and abetting prime conspirators Dawood Ibrahim, Mohammed Dossa and Tiger Memon in the landing of arms and ammunition meant for terrorist acts. Thapa was also held guilty of not acting on a tip-off about the landing operation.
The court found dismissed customs inspector Jaywant Gurav and customs superintendent S S Talawadekar guilty under Section 3 (3) of Tada of abetment by accepting bribes to facilitate landing and transportation of arms and ammunition and explosives. Both were, however, acquitted of the charge of criminal conspiracy in the blasts.
Gurav, who allegedly got a bribe of Rs 35,000 from the conspirators, had been posted at Shrivardhan in Raigad along with Talawadekar when the arms landing took place. He was guilty of piloting trucks carrying arms which had landed at Dighi jetty in Raigad district.
Gurav was also found guilty of allowing co-accused Uttam Potdar to drive a vehicle owned by the customs wing while he himself sat beside him. He was also present at the other landing site at Shekhadi but he said he thought it was only smuggled silver that was landing. On bail since 1998, he lost his job and began selling potatoes for a living.
Talawadekar was held guilty of being in Shekhadi where he met Tiger Memon during the landing of arms.
The court sentenced Talawadekar to eight years’ rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 2 lakh.
