HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court has upheld the verdict of the NIA court in the Dilsukhnagar bomb blasts case, confirming the death sentence handed to five convicts.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) court had sentenced the five individuals to death in 2016 after finding them guilty of orchestrating the twin blasts that rocked Dilsukhnagar in Hyderabad. The convicts had later approached the High Court, seeking to overturn the judgement.
On Tuesday, a division bench comprising Justice K Lakshman and Justice P Sree Sudha dismissed the appeal petitions filed by the convicts, affirming the original ruling by the NIA court.
The bomb blasts, which took place on 21 February 2013 near the Dilsukhnagar bus stop and Mirchi Centre, caused nationwide shock and outrage. The explosions killed 18 people and injured 131 others. Following an extensive investigation, the NIA court pronounced the death penalty on 13 December 2016 for the five accused.
Despite the court proceedings, the main accused in the case, Mohammed Riyaz alias Riyaz Bhatkal, remains absconding.
The High Court’s verdict on Tuesday reinforces the NIA court’s ruling, bringing partial closure to one of the most devastating terror attacks in recent times in Hyderabad.
