Tuesday, September 26 2006 14:33 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: The designated TADA court today (Sept 26, 2006)held five policemen, including suspended police sub-inspector Vijay Patil, guilty in 1993 serial blasts case for allowing smooth passage of arms and ammunition from Raigad to Mumbai, but acquitted three other constables of the same charges.

Beside Patil, others who were today held guilty are Ashok Muleshwar, P M Mahadik, Ramesh Mali and S Y Pashilkar, all constables, suspended from service.

All the five policemen were convicted under Section 3(3) of TADA Act (aiding and abetting terrorist acts).

Also, Patil was convicted for being party to conspiracy, under 120 (b) of IPC.

All of them were found guilty of accepting Rs 7 lakh from another accused Uttam Potdar and customs inspector Gurav for allowing trucks carrying arms to pass through Ghondgar Phata on January 9, 1993.

Explosives, including RDX, had been smuggled from Pakistan and ferried by speedboat to Shekhadi coast in Raigad.

Patil was in custody for five years and later released on bail. Today, he was summoned to the court for the verdict and taken into custody soon thereafter.

However, the TADA court acquitted three other constables-- Krishna Mokal, Krishna Pingle and Manohar More.

Though the court accepted that there were seven constables who allowed the trucks to pass through, identity of three could not be established, leading to the acquittals.