PTI

Mumbai, Aug 10: The designated TADA court hearing the 1993 bomb blasts case on Thursday August 10, commenced delivery of its verdict in the trial, 13 years after serial blasts claimed 257 lives and left 713 injured.

Court proceedings began on Thursday morning with designated Judge P D Kode saying he would commence delivery of the judgement, but defence lawyer Farhana Shah objected, saying Abu Salem had moved the High Court challenging the order of the TADA Court separating his trial from the other accused.

However, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam countered the argument, pointing out that since the High Court had not granted any stay on the matter, the Court was free to proceed with the delivery of judgement. The Judge said he would pronounce the final verdict in the case on September 12.

Thirteen years after serial blasts rocked Mumbai, a TADA court is all set to start dictation of its verdict from Thursday to decide the fate of 123 accused including film star Sanjay Dutt.

The security in and around the Court has been tightened since Wednesday and police has imposed section 144 CrPC in and around the Court premises banning the assembly of five or more persons. The focus was on the three barracks inside the Arthur Road Jail, converted into the special TADA Court.