Supreme Court acquits all 11 men in 1993 Surat twin blasts cases

New Delhi, 18 July 2014

A Supreme Court bench headed by Justice T S Thakur today passed the order acquitting all eleven persons including former Congress minister Mohammad Surti who were convicted and sentenced in October 2008, by a TADA court to jail terms ranging from 10 to 20 years in January 1993 Surat twin blasts cases in which one girl was killed and 31 others were injured. The two blasts had taken place in Varachha area and on the platform number one of Surat railway station. The Supreme court verdict arrived after cross appeals filed by the accused and the Gujarat government challenging the TADA court’s verdict in the case. The blast at Varachha had claimed the life of a school girl, Alpa Patel, and injured 11 others, while that on the railway station had wounded around 20 people.

Past details of the Surat twin bomb blasts case of year 1993

First bomb blast took place on 21 January 1993 near Sadhna school in Mini bazar in Varachha area of Surat. On next day another bomb blast happened at Surat railway station platform no. 1 targeting Gujarat express train. Varachha blast killed one female student Alpa Patel and caused serious injuries to 11 persons including a student Jigna Pansuria. The blast at Surat railway station seriously injured 38 innocent passengers.

Police exposed the conspiracy on 5-3-1995 when Umra Police arrested Kharva chowl resident Mustak Patel- the main person who executed the Railway station bomb blast. He was arrested from Dumas coast with revolver.

Under the guidance of then Police Commissioner Sudhir Sinha and DCP Pravin Sinha, 11-member action team was formed. The team connected the dots of bomb blasts case and arrested 11 accused including Hussain Ghadiali, Iqbal Vadivala, Mustak Patel, salim Chawal, Ahesan Ismail Patel, Yusuf Dadu, Aziz Ibrahmi Patel, Mehboob alias Baba Ibrahim Mastar, Fazal Dawood Nagori, Saeed Nadi alias Abdul Saeed Abdul Majid Navdiwala.

While in Varachha bomb blast case, 13 persons including Hussain Ghdadiali, Iqbal Ahmed Vadiwala, Mohammad Gulam Mohuddin Surti, Mustak Ibrahim Patel, Salim alias Chaval alias Manjro, Gafar Meman, Ahesan Ismail Patel, Asif Bashir Sheikh, Baba alias Abdul Abdul Khalid Salim Mohammar Sheikh, Mehmood alias Baba Ibrahim Mastar, Fazal Dawood Nagori, Saeed Nadi alias Abdul Saeed Abdul Majid Navdiwala were arrested. One Yusuf Dadu was arrested in year 2000.

Judge Dholaria had announced the verdict in this case after thorough study of evidences for two months.

Mohammad Surti,Hussain Ghadiali, Iqbal Vadiwala,Mustak Patel, Salim Chaval, Ahesan Ismail Patel, Yusuf Dadu were given 20 year imprisonment and Rs two lakh fine under Tada, Arms act, Explosive substantive act, murder, attempt to murder and conspiracy of murder charges.

Other accused Aziz Patel, Baba alias Khalid Sheikh, Mehmood alias Baba Mastar, Saeed Nadi, Yusuf adu, Fazal Nagori etc were given 10 years jail and fine.

One Asif Bashir Sheikh was given benefit of doubt and released.

In Surat railway station area bomb blast case, Mohammad Surti, Mustak Patel, Salim Chaval, Ezas Patel, Yusuf Dadu, Iqbal Vadiwala, Hussain Gahdiali – total 11 accused were given 10 years jail and Rs 1 lakh fine. This bomb blast was executed with motive to stop a rally of Sadhu saints.

Four accused Aziz Ibrahim Patel, Mohammad alias Baba Mastar, Fazal Nagori and Saeed Nadi were released giving benefit of doubt.

The court had ordered to pay Rs 2.10 lakh relief to immediate relative of Varachha’s Alpa Patel who died in the blast. Rs 25,000 to Pravin Gandalal Shah who lost his eye due to blast, and Rs 11,000 to those injured.

Faruq Surti(son of Mohammad surti), Salim Lala alias Salim Abdul Hamidlala, Gazanavi alias Gajno Mohammad Betwala, Ahmedabad Rasul Pati alias Yakubkhan Pathan and Abdul Latif were other accused in this case, but they were on run.

About Mohammad Surti

In his young age, Mohammad Surti was fruit and vegetable vendor with a common cart. With blessings of senior politicians, he became minister and chairman later on in his life.

Surti enjoyed several positions. He was Surat city Congress President, Director in cooperative bank. He contested 1975 civic polls in Surat on Congress ticket but faced defeat.

Thanks to the blessings of late former MLA Krushnavadan Pachchigar, and Sopariwala, he was given chance to contest the assembly polls in 1980s from western area of Surat. Due to good number of Muslim voters in Rander village and other areas, he won the polls.

He was made minister of state for Fisheries and ports in Congress government. Later when Chimanbhai Patel formed the government, Surti left Congress and joined Chimanbhai’s Janta Dal Gujarat and was made Chairman of Fisheries board.

After his involvement in 1993 Surat bomb blasts was revealed by police, he was arrested but later released on bail. In year 2008, when he was given 20 years imprisonment by TADA court he was 74.

The Supreme Court had granted three-month midterm bail on health ground to him in 2013.