The prime suspect of the 1993 Mumbai serial bombings, Abdul Karim Tunda (aged 81), was acquitted by the Ajmer Special TADA Court on Thursday, February 29, due to lack of evidence. Tunda, along with two other accused, Irfan Ahmad and Hamir-Ul-Uddin aka Hamiduddin, who were sentenced to life imprisonment by the TADA court. CBI failed to present substantial evidence against Abdul Karim Tunda.
Following the court's decision, Tunda expressed his relief to the media saying, 'I have been acquitted, all thanks to the court. The truth cannot be hidden by artificial principles, nor can fragrance emanate from paper flowers...' Abdul Karim Tunda hails from Hapur, Uttar Pradesh. He was a carpenter in Pilkhua and was nicknamed 'Tunda' after losing his arm in bomb-making.
Why was Abdul Karim Tunda acquitted by the TADA court?
On the nights of December 5 and 6, 1993, a series of bomb explosions occurred on trains between Mumbai and New Delhi, New Delhi and Howrah by Rajdhani Express, the Surat-Baroda Flying Queen Express, and the Hyderabad-New Delhi Andhra Pradesh Express. These terrorist bombings resulted in the death of two passengers and left 22 injured, some seriously and others with minor injuries.
After hearing the arguments in the case, the court concluded that Irfan Ahmad and Hamir-Ul-Uddin aka Hamiduddin had sufficient evidence against them to warrant a conviction. However, there was not enough evidence to implicate the main accused, Syed Abdul Karim Tunda, in the criminal conspiracy. The prosecution failed to clarify Tunda's role in relation to the bomb blasts that took place on different trains on the night of December 5 and 6, 1993.
The TADA court stated in its findings, 'The prosecution only managed to provide evidence to the extent that the accused Syed Abdul Karim Tunda had explained to other accused Jalees Ansari and Habib Ahmad how to make bombs and had supplied them with explosives. The prosecution provided evidence that the explosives supplied by Syed Abdul Karim to Jalees Ansari were used in the crime related to the Mumbai bombings'.
Life imprisonment for two other accused in the case
The court noted, 'The prosecution could not establish that Syed Abdul Karim Tunda had supplied the material for explosions on long-distance trains, or that he had rendered direct or indirect cooperation to the other accused or was involved in the conspiracy of this crime. The charges against Tunda cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, this accused deserves to be acquitted of the charges benefiting from the doubt.' Subsequently, the TADA court acquitted Syed Abdul Karim Tunda, granting him the benefit of the doubt. Meanwhile, the two other accused, Irfan Ahmad (aged 70) and Hamir-Ul-Uddin aka Hamiduddin (aged 44), were sentenced to life imprisonment.
