Abdul Karim Tunda, Accused in 1993 Mumbai Bomb Blasts, Acquitted Due to Lack of Evidence
Mumbai, 29th February 2024: In a recent development, Abdul Karim Tunda, the main accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts case, was acquitted by the TADA court on Thursday due to a lack of evidence. The 81-year-old, along with two other accused, Irfan and Hamiduddin, was being tried under the TADA and sentenced to life imprisonment.
The Central Board of Investigation (CBI) failed to present substantial evidence against Abdul Karim Tunda during the trial, according to advocate Shafqat Sultani representing Tunda. The court found Tunda not guilty in all sections, including TADA, IPC, Railway Acts, Arms Act, and Explosive Substances Act.
Abdul Karim Tunda, hailing from Hapur in Uttar Pradesh, initially worked as a carpenter in Pilkhuwa. He earned the nickname ‘Tunda’ after losing an arm while constructing a bomb. Tunda received training in making improvised explosive devices (IED) in Pakistan and admitted to being in constant contact with Pakistan’s ISI, collaborating closely with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist organization. Known to be close to Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, Tunda was considered a significant catch due to his connections with criminals across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
Tunda, identified as a top bomb maker for LeT, had links with various anti-India organizations and was known for his oratory skills, often serving as a motivational speaker to influence and recruit youngsters for Jihad. Despite his arrest being considered a significant development, the lack of concrete evidence has led to his acquittal in the 1993 bomb blasts case.
