Mumbai: The 12 convicts in the 2006 Mumbai local train serial blasts case on Monday made submissions before the special MCOCA court and requested the judge to award them minimum sentence saying: “We are not threat to the society.”
The MCOCA court on Monday recorded submissions made by the accused in which they pointed out mitigating circumstances that can be considered to award them lesser sentence. They pointed out to court about their good behaviour in jail, as well as pursuing academics to show that their reformation had already begun.
“I am a doctor and I wanted to help troubled people so I chose to work in critical care and that too in a charitable hospital. I do not have any criminal background and in jail I improved my qualification and behaviour,” said Dr Tanvir. Requesting for a lesser punishment, he also said that in jail he had pursued post-graduation in disaster management so that he could help people if the situation arises.
Mohammed Faisal said that for the past three years he was suffering from brain tumour and also had some spinal problem. “I never committed a crime and do not have any wish to indulge in any criminal activities in future,” said Faisal. He also added that his parents are very old and suffering from various illnesses and his brother (co-accused Muzammil) is also in jail so there is nobody to look after them and hence he should be given lesser punishment.
Mohammed Ali Shaikh said before the court that he was hawking when the blasts took place. He said that he was known as a social worker in his area and alleged because he made several complaints against the police that resulted in police losing hafta (illegal money) of around Rs 16 lakh and the police had threatened him that they would implicate him in some big false case and they did so. He also alleged that he was kept in illegal custody during the period his mother died, and the police did not allow him to attend her last rites. He also said that he himself, his wife and father are suffering from different ailments and there is nobody to look after them. He said he was not well-educated, but during imprisonment had graduated through IGNOU and also completed a one-year tourism course and a Urdu language certificate course. “I am capable of leading a law-abiding life and hence I should be given minimum sentence,” he added.
“ATS falsely implicated me in the case and I am innocent just like those in the Malegaon 2006 blast case,” said Mohammed Sajid, while referring to the group of accused that got bail after another set of accused was arrested for causing blasts. He also said, “The court failed to recognise false evidence created by the ATS. I have sympathy for the victims of the blasts, and I understand their pain because I am also a victim of the blast.” However, his act did not go down too well with the judge as he went back to his seat after this sentence and his lawyer Khan Abdul Wahab gave a copy of his written submission of mitigating circumstances to the judge saying he was mentally disturbed by the conviction. The judge, however, noted that he should have handed over the written submission to the court. Sajid is the brother of lone acquitted accused Abdul Wahid.
Another accused Asif Khan alias Junaid gave various reasons seeking lesser punishment, but also said that to reform himself he had read 27 books written on Mahatma Gandhi and was more tolerant. He said, “After reading these books I am willing to do more social work towards the weaker sections of society and humanity,” adding, “Reading these books have brought about a change in my behaviour and now I do not have hatred in my heart for anybody. I forgive the ATS officers also who falsely implicated me in the case and pray that they should not suffer the way my family and I suffered during this nine-year imprisonment.”
Other accused also pointed out their good conduct and various ailments they and their family members were suffering from and requested for leniency in punishment.
