Thursday, September 21 2006 17:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: A designated TADA court today convicted Parvez Nazir Ahmed Shaikh, an aide of absconding prime accused Tiger Memon, for causing explosions in Katha Bazaar and hotel Sea Rock on March 12, 1993, killing four persons and injuring several others.

He faces punishment ranging from five years to life and even death, public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said.

Parvez is the ninth accused in the 1993 bomb blast case to be held guilty. Others are Yakub Memon, Yusuf Memon, Essa Memon, Rubina Memon, Mohammed Ghansar, Shahnawaz Qureshi, Asgar Mukadam, Abdul Gani Turk.

Parvez was found guilty of parking an RDX-laden scooter in Katha Bazaar area of south Mumbai which exploded killing four persons and injuring 21 others besides damaging property worth Rs 37 lakhs.

Parvez was also held guilty for planting an RDX-bag in a room of hotel Sea Rock causing an explosion which damaged property worth Rs nine crore. No one was killed in the blast.

He was further found guilty of conspiracy in the 1993 bomb blasts in which 257 persons were killed and 713 injured.

Reading the verdict, designated judge P D Kode said he was holding Parvez guilty under provisions of Tada (p) act, IPC and Explosives Substances Act, Explosives Act.

The judge said he had partially accepted the confession of Parvez and also considered the account of witnesses who deposed against him.

Parvez, who used to sell garments outside Andheri railway station before Tiger Memon roped him in the blast conspiracy, would give his statement tomorrow on quantum of sentence to be awarded to him.