Mumbai: Two members of Hindu right wing
group Sanathan Sanstha were on Tuesday sentenced to ten years`
rigorous imprisonment by a court here for their role in
carrying out three bomb blasts in Thane and Panvel in 2008.
Accused Ramesh Hanumant Gadkari and Vikram Vinay Bhave
were yesterday found guilty of lesser offences under IPC and
under the provisions Explosives Substances Act for causing
low-intensity blasts in which eight persons were injured.
The court had acquitted them of more serious charges of
307 IPC (attempt to murder), 120(B) (criminal conspiracy) and
various provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
After hearing arguments on the quantum of sentence, Judge
N V Nhavkar sentenced them to 10 years` RI each under sections
3, 4, 5 and 6 of Explosives Substances Act. All would run
concurrently. They were also fined with Rs 9,500 each.
The duo also received three years` RI under section 324
IPC, one year under 201 IPC, three years under 427 IPC and one
year each under Section 3 and 4 of Damage to Public Properties
Act.
The sessions court acquitted four other accused-- Mangesh
Nikam, Santosh Angre, Haribhau Divekar and Hemant Chalke-- for
lack of evidence and prosecution`s failure to prove the
charges.
The Thane blast had occurred in Gadkari Rangayatan
auditorium which left eight persons injured on June 4, 2008.
This was carried out to protest the staging of a Marathi play.
Two other explosions were triggered in two theatres in
Panvel, Navi Mumbai which screened Hindi film `Jodha Akbar`.
However, no one was injured in these blasts.
According to prosecution, the blasts were carried out
by the accused as they felt that Hindi movie `Jodha Akbar`
and Marathi play `Ahmi PachPute` lampooned Hindu gods and epic
Mahabharat.
PTI
