The two convicts in the 2007 twin bombing case were inside the special court hall for nearly seven hours on the day of verdict on Monday. Along with Tarik Anjum, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for harbouring the perpetrators, the convicts, Anik Shafique Syeed and Mohammed Akbar Ismail Chowdhari, reportedly had to wait this long only to hear that they were being awarded death sentence by a special court on the premises of Cherlapally Central Prison.
Two other acquitted, Farooq Sharfuddin Tarkash and Mohammed Sadiq Israr Ahmed Shaik, were in their cell and not taken to the court hall, said counsel to the convicts. Media persons were barred entry into the jail. The three convicts were dressed in civilian clothes and none of their parents or relatives visited the court on the day of verdict. Around 10.45 a.m., Anik, Akbar and Tarik were produced before the court. While the prosecution sought death sentence, defence counsel were arguing for life imprisonment.
Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Court Judge (in-charge) T. Srinivas Rao pronounced the judgment around 5.30 p.m. before the convicts, said defence counsel Gandham Gurumurthy.
Around 2 p.m., each of them was provided with 300 grams of rice, 80 grams of toor dal, rasam and 70 ml curd during lunch break. The food, prepared by other inmates in the modern kitchen of Cherlapally Central Prison, was specially brought for them inside the court hall, said prison officials.
Over 100 police personnel were deployed on the premises of the prisons. The security arrangements were closely monitored by Malkajgiri DCP Ch. R. Umamaheswara Sarma and other senior cops. Advocates present inside the hall said that the convicts did not break down or raise slogans.