Three get 7-yr jail in Chinnaswamy Stadium blasts case

The special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) convicted three accused in the 2010 Chinnaswamy Stadium blasts case to seven years of imprisonment.

A penalty of Rs 7.5 lakh was imposed on two of them, while the third convict was handed a Rs 10-lakh penalty.

After a detailed hearing of the case and examining all the evidence, the court found Gowhar Aziz Khomani, Kamaal Hasan and Mohammad Kafeel Akhtar guilty under Section 18 (conspiracy), 19 (harbouring) and 20 (being part of a terror organisation) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Of the seven years, the accused have to undergo one year of rigorous imprisonment. The court charged Akhtar with Section 13(1) (advocates, abets, advises or incites the commission of any unlawful activity) and slapped a fine of Rs 10 lakh.

The blasts at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 17, 2010, during an Indian Premier League (IPL) match, had injured 15 people, including five securitymen.

Of the total 14 accused, the above three had confessed to the crime. The court allowed their confession and pronounced the judgement in the case.

The matter has been posted to July 19 for further hearing.