JUDGMENT

B.L. Hansaria, J.-Bombay of yesterday, Mumbai of today: financial capital of the nation It woke as usual on 12th March, 1993. People started for their places of work not knowing what was in their store. The terrorists and/or disruptionists, bent on breaking the backbone of the nation (for reasons which need not be gone into) had, however, hatched a well laid-out conspiracy to cripple the country by striking at its financial nerve. As Bombay set down to work, blasting of bombs almost simultaneously, took place at important centers of commercial activities like Stock Exchange, Air India, Zaveri Bazar, Katha Bazar and many luxurious hotels. A shocked Bombay and a stunned nation first tried to provide succour to the victims as much as possible and then wanted to know the magnitude of the loss of life and property. It surpassed all imagination, as it was ultimately found that the blasts left more than 250 persons dead, 730 injured and property worth about Rs. 27 crores destroyed. By all counts, it was thus a great tragedy; and revolting also, as it was men-made.

2 All right thinking persons and well wishers of the nation started asking; Why it happened? How could it happen? We