Mumbai: June 20, 2007 (Wednesday) – A new turn has taken in Bombay Blass case when a lawyer representing 16 of the convicts sought a stay on the proceedings. A special court here yesterday adjourned the sentencing of the remaining persons in the Bombay blasts case to June 21, after a lawyer sought a stay on the proceedings of  16 covicts.

The lawyer cited a Supreme Court judge, who had declared that punishing convicts under the Terrorists and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA), after the expiry of the legislation, could be a violation of their constitutional rights.

Farhana Shah, the lawyer, asked the TADA court judge to refer the matter to the Supreme Court or the Bombay High Court, and not to continue with the sentencing of the convicts. Judge P.D. Kode has already delivered the sentence relating to 76 of the 100 persons convicted of charges in the blasts case.

The 16 convicts, who have objected to further sentencing, were found guilty of planting the bombs in Bombay on March 12, 1993. About 250 persons were killed and 800 injured in a series of blasts that shook the city on that day. Shah contended that the TADA legislation expired about 12 years ago, and its provisions were not applicable now.

Eight persons, including actor Sanjay Dutt and three of his friends — all convicted under the Arms Act — and four family members of Tiger Memon, the alleged mastermind behind the blasts, were not involved in the appeal against the sentencing.