HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court is set to pronounce a crucial verdict on Tuesday in the Dilsukhnagar bomb blast case, which shook Hyderabad in 2013 and claimed 18 lives, injuring over 130 others.
The Dilsukhnagar blast case, investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), led to the sentencing of five individuals, including most-wanted terrorist Yasin Bhatkal, to death by a special NIA fast-track court in 2016. However, the main accused, Riyaz Bhatkal, remains absconding.
Death Sentence Challenged in High Court
The convicts had appealed against the death sentence in the High Court. After completing the hearing on their petitions, the court is expected to announce its final judgment today. The verdict is being keenly awaited, given the high-profile nature of the case.
Details of the 2013 Blasts
The twin explosions occurred on 21 February 2013 in Dilsukhnagar. Following the incident, the NIA launched a detailed investigation, recording the testimonies of 157 witnesses.
Yasin Bhatkal, co-founder of the banned terrorist organisation Indian Mujahideen, was identified as the prime accused. Other convicted individuals include Asadullah Akhtar, Waqas, Tehseen Akhtar, Ejaz Sheikh, and Syed Maqbool.
After a three-year trial, the NIA special court pronounced the death sentence for the accused in 2016. Yasin Bhatkal, who played a central role in the plot, was arrested near the Nepal border in 2013. He is currently serving his sentence in Delhi’s Tihar Jail, having been found guilty in this and other terror-related cases, including the Delhi blasts.
The High Court’s verdict today will determine whether the death sentences handed down by the lower court will be upheld, altered, or overturned.
