Life Imprisonment To Eleven Accused in Serial Train Bomb Blast Case of 1993
The Hon’ble Supreme Court vide order dated 11.05.2016 rejected the Criminal Appeal no. 546/2004 filed by Dr. Jalees Ansari and others against their sentence of life imprisonment awarded by Designated Court, Ajmer, Rajasthan vide its judgment dated 28.02.2004, which held all the 15 accused persons guilty. The Hon’ble Apex Court confirmed the sentence of life imprisonment against Dr. Jalees Ansari, Ashfaque Khan, Dr. Habib Ahmed Khan, M.Jamal Alvi, Mohd. Afaque Khan, Fazlur Rehman Sufi, Mohd. Shamshuddin, Mohd. Azeemuddin, Mohd. Amin, Mohd. Aizaz Akbar and Ambre Rehmat Ansari. 4 accused were acquitted on technical ground.
2. It was alleged that in the intervening night of 5-6th December, 1993, a series of explosions were caused in the following trains:
Bombay New Delhi- Rajdhani Express near Kota (Raj.)
New Delhi-Howarah Rajdhani Express near Kanpur
Howrah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express near Kanpur
AP Express from Hyderabad to New Delhi at Maulaali Railway Station
Flying Queen Express from Surat to Bombay near Bestan Railway Station, near Valsad.
Bangalore Kurla Express (Bomb did not explode as it was detected unexploded).
Initially, 5 cases were registered in the jurisdiction of local GRP Stations. Subsequently, the Govt. of India issued Notification NO. 228/83/93-AVD dated 21.12.93 and 28.12.93 entrusting investigation of these cases to, Central Bureau of Investigation. Consequently, 05 Regular Cases were registered in CBI and investigation carried out.
3. The investigation disclosed that the role of 21 accused persons, namely, Dr. Mohd. Jalees Ansari, Ashfaque Khan, Dr. Habib Ahmed Khan, M. Jamal Alvi, Mohd. Afaq Khan, Fazlur Rehman Sufi, Mohd. Saleem Ansari, Mohd. Zaheeruddin Ahmed @ Ahmed, Mohd. Nissaruddin Ahmed @ Majju, Mohd. Shamsuddin @ Painter Bab, Mohd. Azeemuddin @ Azeem, Mohd. Yusuf, Mohd. Amin, Mohd. Aizaz Akbar, Ambre Rehmat Ansari @ Kari, Syed Abdul Karim, Mohd. Tuffail,Hameer-Ul-Uddin,Mohd. Saleem, Nisar Ahmed Ansari and Mohd. Saleem were found in the criminal conspiracy to spread terror in public at large and created disharmony among different communities by committing terrorist acts, like bomb explosions in the running trains in different parts of the country, on the occasion of first anniversary of demolition of Babri Mazid. After thorough investigation, CBI filed charge sheet against 15 accused persons.
Out of 21 accused, 5 accused namely Syed Abdul Karim,Mohd Tuffail, Hameer-Ul-Uddin, Mohd. Saleem, and Nisar Ahmed Ansari were absconding and were declared Proclaimed Offenders (Pos). One absconding accused Mohd. Saleem was killed in a police encounter on 16.10.98.
Other absconding accused, Hameer-Ul-Uddin and Syed Abdul Karim @ Tunda were arrested subsequently. Another accused, Irfan Ahmed who was granted interim bail by the Designated TADA Court, Ajmer to attend marriage of his brother in June, 2001 jumped the bail. He was declared a Proclaimed Offender and was again arrested. Thus, only 2 accused, Mohd. Tuffail and Nisar Ahmed Ansari are still absconding.
6. On conclusion of the trial, 15 accused persons, namely, Dr. Mohd. Jalees Ansari, Ashfaque Khan, Dr. Habib Ahmed Khan, M. Jamal Alvi, Mohd. Afaq Khan, Fazlur Rehman Sufi, Mohd. Saleem Ansari, Mohd. Zaheeruddin Ahmed @ Ahmed, Mohd. Nissaruddin Ahmed @ Majju, Mohd. Shamsuddin @ Painter Bab, Mohd. Azeemuddin @ Azeem, Mohd. Yusuf, Mohd. Amin, Mohd. Aizaz Akbar and Ambre Rehmat Ansari @ Kari were convicted by the Designated Court, Ajmer for the offence of criminal conspiracy, offences under TADA (P) Act, 1987, Explosives Act 1884, Arms Act, 1908, Indian Railways Act and Prevention of Damages to Public Property Act. All were awarded life imprisonment.
7. The accused persons challenged their conviction and filed a Criminal Appeal No. 546/2004 in the Hon’ble Supreme Court. The Apex Court decided the appeal on 11.05.2016 and confirmed the life sentence of accused, Dr. Jalees Ansari, Ashfaque Khan, Dr. Habib Ahmed Khan, M.Jamal Alvi, Mohd. Afaque Khan, Fazlur Rehman Sufi, Mohd. Shamshuddin, Mohd. Azeemuddin, Mohd. Amin, Mohd. Aizaz Akbar and Ambre Rehmat Ansari.
The trial against the accused Sayed Abdul Karim @ Tunda, Irfan Ahmed and Hameer-Ul-Uddin who were earlier absconding and subsequently arrested is continuing at the Designated TADA Court, Ajmer.