Shiv Sena Men convicted for inciting 1992-93 communal violence in Bombay

[Two News Reports]

#1.
The Times of India

Sena leader Sarpotdar convicted for inciting riots

9 July 2008 (PTI)


NEW DELHI: A special riot court on Wednesday sentenced Shiv Sena leader Madhukar Sarpotdar and two other party workers to one year imprisonment for inciting violence during the 1992-93 communal clashes in the city. ( Watch )

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 each on Sarpotdar, Ashok Shinde and Jaywant Parab.

Sarpotdar, however been granted bail.

The court has acquitted Umesh Pawar, Shantaram and Pradeep in the case.

Earlier in the month, a prime witness in the 1993 riots case had identified Shiv Sena leader Madhukar Sarpotdar before the court in Mumbai.

Police Inspector Madhav Khanolkar had told the court that he was on duty on December 27, 1992, when a mob of people from the Ganesh Utsav Samiti Mandal gathered near the Ganesh temple in suburban Kherwadi area of Mumbai. He had said that Sarpotdar, one K P Naik and Pawar from the Sena were present with the trustees of the Mandal.

The trio had given inflammatory speeches after taking out a procession in the area.

On December 27, 1992, Shiv Sena leader Sarpotdar, along with other party leaders, allegedly led a mob of more than 200 people towards a Ganesh temple in Bandra. According to the prosecution case, Sarpotdar had made a derogatory speech against Muslims, following which the mob turned violent. A case of stone pelting and inciting the mob was filed against seven persons.

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#2.

(Source: CNN-IBN, Jul 09, 2008)

Former Shiv Sena MP gets 1-year jail term

IN THE NET: Shiv Sena leader had been accused of causing enmity between two religious groups.


Mumbai: A special magistrate's court in Mumbai court has convicted senior Shiv Sena leader Madhukar Sarpotdar and two others in a 1993 Mumbai riots case.

Magistrate RC Bapat Sarkar has convicted Sarpotdar along with two Shiv Sena activists -Ashok Shinde and Jaywant Parad - for making inflammatory speeches and causing enmity between religious groups during the riots.

He has been sentenced to one-year imprisonment and fined Rs 5,000.

"I will not comment on the court's judgement. It has to be honoured. It was not a political procession but a religious one. My party will stand by me. I will appeal against the judgement," Sarpotdar told CNN-IBN.

On Friday, a key witness in the case had identified Sarpotdar as the person who gave a provocative speech on December 27, 1992, near a Ganesh Temple in Bandra.

However, the sentence for all three convict including Sarpotdar has been suspended till August 16 on an application filed by the defence lawyer. They will now approach the Sessions Court against the conviction. Sarpotdar has already got bail.

Other co-accused Umesh Pawar, Shantaram Sarvantar and Pradeep Khanvilkar were acquitted due to lack of evidence.

(With inputs from Shoaib Ahmed and Toral Varia)