Coimbatore blasts: Bail to 7 convicts

The Sessions Court in Coimbatore, trying the 1998 serial bomb blast cases in the city, on Tuesday granted bail to seven convicts against whom "minor charges" have been levelled.

Judge K Uthirapathy granted bail to Khader, Aiyappan, Umar Abu Sali, Mir Sabir Ahmed, Sikander and Abdul Salim. While Khader was asked to furnish a bond for Rs 5,000 and a surety by another person, Mir Sabir Ahmed had to furnish Rs 10,000 as bond and surety by another person.

Other convicts were granted bail on personal surety. A total of 105 convicts had moved bail petitions and 17 persons, including Abdul Nasser Madhani, Chairman of Kerala-based PDP, have been released on bail so far. Uthirapathy, in his judgement on the findings on the 220 core charges against 166 accused, has found 158 guilty, with 69 convicted for major charges, including criminal conspiracy, murder, attempt to murder and also promoting hatred between two communities.

A series of blasts in Coimbatore on February 14, 1998 during the visit of BJP leader L K Advani had claimed 58 lives and left 250 injured. Bail applications of 23 convicts would be taken up on Wednesday.