Connect with us

Top News

1993 Mumbai blasts accused Farooq Takla in police custody (Lead)

Published

on

Mumbai, March 8 (IANS) A designated TADA Court on Thursday sent to police custody absconder Mohammed Farooq Yasin Mansoor alias Farooq Takla, an accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts and a close aide of mafia don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, to police custody till March 19.

Extradited from Abu Dhabi, following a request made by India last year, the accused, who eluded the law for a quarter century, was finally arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at the Delhi Airport around 5.15 a.m. and later brought to Mumbai.

Farooq Takla – against whom there were several non-bailable warrants of arrest and for whom the InterPol had issued a Red Corner Notice way back in 1995 – was tracked to the UAE where he was believed to be holed up.

At least 257 people were killed and over 700 injured and properties worth crores of rupees were destroyed in the March 12, 1993 blasts, the 25th anniversary of which falls next Monday.

In the remand plea, the CBI’s Deputy Superintendent of Police of the Special Task Force, Shiv Kumar, said the accused was “deeply involved in the criminal conspiracy to commit terrorist acts” including carrying out the serial explosions that day.

The CBI said Farooq Takla was an active conspirator in the conspiracy along with other accused including Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and Anees Ibrahim Kaskar.

He provided logistics support to at least five other co-accused like arranging their air tickets, documentation and their accommodation in Dubai from where they were to travel to other places for getting arms and ammunition and sending them from Dubai to Pakistan for training in handling explosives, said CBI spokesperson Abhishek Dayal.

Interestingly, Farooq Takla’s arrest comes just two days after well-known criminal lawyer Shyam Keswani reiterated in Thane that Dawood Ibrahim was reportedly ready to return to India and face trial but the Indian government had rejected some of his preconditions.

Considered one of the biggest terror strikes in the world, as many as 13 locations were strategically targeted for their economic or political or commercial importance.

They included the Air India Building, the Bombay Stock Exchange, Zaveri Bazaar, Sahar International Airport, Centaur Hotel (Juhu), Centaur Hotel (Airport), the now demolished Hotel SeaRock, the Century Bazar and other major sites.

Bharatiya Janata Party MP Subramanian Swamy on Thursday congratulated National Security Advisor Ajit Doval for the success in getting back Farooq Takla to face trial.

“We need to compliment NSA Doval… Dawood not far off?” Swamy tweeted.

–IANS
qn/mr/him

Continue Reading

Top News

Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

Published

on

By

World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

Continue Reading

Trending