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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.
