New Delhi: The Telangana High Court on Tuesday upheld a trial court’s verdict of handing down death penalty to five convicts of the 2013 Dilsukhnagar bomb blast case in Hyderabad. The five convicts were senior operatives of the banned terror outfit – Indian Mujahideen (IM). The blasts activated by the members resulted in the death of 18 people besides injuring 131 people.
A bench of Justice K Lakshman and Justice P Sree Sudha dismissed the criminal appeal petition filed by the five convicts. Consequently, the death penalty imposed by the NIA court’s judgement was confirmed by the High Court.
“Confirming the judgment of the trial court,” the bench said.
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On December 13, 2016, the NIA court convicted the five members of the IM. The members are IM co-founder Mohd Ahmed Sidibapa, who is also known as Yasin Bhatkal, Pakistan national Zia-ur-Rahman (also known as Waqas), Asadullah Akhtar (also known as Haddi), Tahaseen Akhtar (also known as Monu), and Ajaz Shaikh.
A lawyer of one of the accused told reporters that they will appeal against the verdict in the Supreme Court.
The incident dates back to February 21, 2013, with two deadly explosions reported in Dilsukhnagar, a locality in the southern region of Hyderabad. The first blast happened at a bus stop and the second near an eatery named A1 Mirchi Centre.
According to news agency PTI, a prosecution lawyer told reporters at the High Court that the NIA took over the investigation as a case of a terrorist activity, though it was initially probed by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Hyderabad Police.
He further said that the prime accused Riyaz Bhatkal is still hiding in Pakistan. The NIA had filed a 4000-page chargesheet on the matter.
