’93 Mumbai blasts accused attended Dubai meet, got arms training in Pak: Chargesheet

MUMBAI: Five-and-a-half months after he was arrested in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case, the CBI submitted a chargsesheet against accused Ahmed Kamal Shaikh (50). Shaikh was allegedly absconding for over two decades before being nabbed in Gujarat in June.

The chargesheet submitted before the special TADA court includes a copy of Shaikh’s alleged confession statement which describes his 1993 visit to Dubai, where now-deceased convicted accused Mustafa Dossa told him and others
about the blasts conspiracy and how he had gone to Pakistan to receive arms training.

During his remand hearing in June, Shaikh had retracted the confession statement and said he had nothing to do with the blasts. Under TADA, a confession statement could be recorded by a senior police officer of the rank of deputy commissioner and used as admissible evidence in court. Under TADA, a confession is among the most significant pieces of evidence. Even if an accused retracts his confession, the court can still accept it as being proper and disbelieve the retraction.

Confession of a co-accused can also be used against another accused under this stringent Act, now repealed. The chargesheet states Shaikh was declared a proclaimed offender in 1997 and a red corner notice issued against him.

It alleged investigations had disclosed Shaikh was an active member of the conspiracy and during a visit to Dubai in January or February 1993, was working in close association with absconding accused Dawood Ibrahim and Anees Kaskar.

Referring to the conspiracy meeting, the CBI said it was held in Dubai and headed by Dawood and attended by absconding prime accused Mohammad Dossa and convicted accused Feroz Khan and Mohammed Salim Mira Shaikh.

The CBI alleged these accused directed Shaikh and other absconding accused Abu Bakr, Sayed Qureshi, Yusuf Batla and Shoeib Baba to go to Pakistan for arms training to avenge the demolition of Babri Masjid. It states the five went to Pakistan and received training in handling arms and ammunition, throwing hand-grenades and making bombs. On March 12, 1993, 13 serial explosions rocked Mumbai, killing 257 and injuring 713.