PTI

Mumbai, Jun 1: The special TADA court hearing the 1993 serial blasts case on Friday sentenced five persons, including Bollywood producer Samir Hingora who supplied AK-56 rifle to actor Sanjay Dutt, to rigorous imprisonment ranging from eight years to life.

Niyaz Ahmed Shaikh, who obtained training in Pakistan, attended conspiracy meetings and made a survey of the BMC building, was sentenced to life imprisonment and asked to pay a total fine of Rs 50,000 on charges of conspiracy and aiding and abetting a terrorist act.

Special judge P D Kode observed that Shaikh was involved in the conspiracy till the last date but was not involved in the commission of terrorist acts leading to death and destruction.

Hingora, who had supplied AK-56 rifle to Dutt on January 19, 1993 at the instance of Anees Ibrahim, brother of prime accused Dawood Ibrahim, was sentenced to nine years rigorous imprisonment (RI) and imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakhs.

Shahrukh Motorwala, who went to Dubai on a forged passport and participated in a conspiracy meeting was sentenced to RI of 13 years and asked to deposit a total fine of Rs 50,000 on two counts of conspiracy and aiding and abetting a terrorist act.

Kode observed that he was advocating the conspiracy as he recruited one of the approvers to obtain training in arms in Pakistan.

An aide of blast mastermind and absconding accused Tiger Memon, Gulam Hafiz Shaikh was sentenced to eight years RI and asked to deposit a total fine of Rs 25,000 for participating in the landing of arms and ammunition and explosives at the Shekhadi coast and transporting them.

Shaikh Mohammed Ehtesham, who had participated in the Shekhadi landing and escorted the contraband in Mumbai, was sentenced to 10 years' RI and asked to pay a total fine of Rs 50,000 on the two counts of conspiracy and aiding and abetting a terrorist act.

Kode held that he had also been to Dubai but could not proceed to obtain training in arms and ammunition in Pakistan as necessary travel arrangements were not made.