Mangaluru: The 3rd additional district and sessions judge S.H. Pushpanjali Devi on Wednesday sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment three Indian Mujahideen (IM) members for abetting the outfit’s founder Riyaz Bhatkal in committing the serial blasts in 2008.

The sentenced were Sayeed Mohammed Noushad, prime accused in the serial blasts in Surat and Ahmedabad; Ahamed Bava Aboobakkar; and Fakeer Ahamad alias Fakeer. The court awarded life imprisonment and imposed a fine of ?10,000 each on all the three for offences under Section 16 (1) (b) of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act; Section 5 (b) of the Explosive Substances Act; Section 120 (b) of the India Penal Code; and Section 25 (1)(A)(A) of the Arms Act. Additionally, Fakeer Ahamed was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for life for offences under Section 6 of the Explosive Substances Act.

The judge sentenced all the three to five years RI and fine of ?5,000 for offences under Sections 17 and 18 of the UAP Act; and two years RI and fine of ?3,000 for offence under Section 9 (b) of the Explosive Substances Act.

Police plea allowed

Noushad was also sentenced to seven years of RI and slapped with a fine of ?5,000 for offence under Section 420 (cheating) of the IPC, and RI of three years and fine of ?3,000 each for offences under Sections 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating) and 471 (using as genuine a forged document) of the IPC.

The judge said the life sentences would run concurrently. She said at this stage she could not entertain the plea of the convicted persons that justice had not been rendered to them. The judge allowed the plea of the police to place handcuffs on the convicted persons while taking them from court to the prison.