The Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Court judge Mr PD Kode today sentenced two convicts, Shaikh Ali Shaikh Omar and gangster Ejaz Pathan, to life imprisonment and ten-years RI respectively and ordered them to pay individual fines of Rs 1.50 lakh and Rs 2.50 lakh. The judge said he would pronounce sentences of 27 remaining convicts from 14 June and asked them to appear before him on that day.

This include actor Sanjay Dutt and his three friends who face punishment under the Arms Act and have applied for pardon under the Probation of Offenders Act. The judge today received reports by probation officer about character and conduct of these convicts.

According to prosecution lawyer Mr Ujwal Nikam, reports are confidential and who are selected by the judge for probation officer’s scrutiny cannot be disclosed. The court, however, is not bound to accept these report while handing down sentences. It is likely that the court may pronounce its verdict under Arms Act ahead of other convicts who await their turn to hear sentences under the Tada Act.

Among the 27 convicts, who will know their fate from 14 June, at least 12 may face severe sentences for committing acts of terrorism on 12 March 1993 in Mumbai in which 257 people were killed and about 700 injured. The prosecution has asked for death sentences in these cases.