Gateway cabbie was on let hit list

Sayyed Md Hanif, convicted in the 2003 Gateway blast, had sent a supari for prime witness cabbie Shivnarayan

Sayyed Md Hanif, convicted in the 2003 Gateway blast, had sent a supari for prime witness cabbie Shivnarayan Pande

The startling interception of two secret letters allegedly written by Sayyed Mohammed Hanif, one of the three prime accused, now convicted, in the 2003 Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazar blasts, suggests there was a plot to assassinate cabbie Shivnarayan Pandey.

The letters, called 'small note' and 'medium note' were written by Hanif in 2005 from Arthur Road jail and was passed on to an underworld sharpshooter.

It was only by luck that they were found and the security blanket around Pandey further tightened.

In fact, even today, after the accused have been convicted, Pandey's whereabouts remain a closely-guarded secret.
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The plot

Midnight, October 21, 2005: Cops on duty at Andheri station spot a man moving suspiciously.

When they ask him to stop, he flees and is caught after a desperate chase. His name, they find, is Mohammed Ayub and on him is a Webly Scott revolver with five live rounds.

During the course of investigation and after an even more thorough search Crime Branch cops find two letters in his pockets.

Inspector Ashok Borkar and Sub-inspector Sanjeev Gawde part of the Criminal Intelligence Unit had intercepted this letter and showed it to this reporter.

Gateway of India Carnage to peace: The Gateway of India after the blast on August 25, 2003. Yesterday, as the court found the accused in the case guilty, the same spot was a picture of peace and happiness. 52 The number of people killed in the twin blasts

Zaveri Bazar Life goes on: Zaveri Bazaar after the blast. Like its counterpart, the daily hustle and bustle went about unabated at this spot yesterday. 184 The number of people injured in the blasts

The letters

The letters were written by Hanif from the Anda Cell of Arthur Road jail. The chhota note said, "Heu00a0 [Pandey] esca-ped the blast at Gateway of India.

He identified and expos-ed us to the Crime Branch. His deposition is important. He is yet to be produced before the MCOCA judge, where the case is being tried."

The medium note began with the names of the accused, his family, the judges and police officers: "Sayed Mohammed Hanif, son of Abdul Rahim, wife Fahmeeda Mohammed Hanif, daughter Fatimabi Vs State of Maharashtra.

Judge Ashok Bangale, Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam and Investigating Officers Wallishetty, Digar, Chavan, Saude and Talekar.

This taxi driver is the key witness and is protected in some safe house. He is yet to depose in the court. Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has rewarded him with Rs 5 lakh for identifying the suspects."

A telephone number was scribbled on the rear of the medium note. It was addressed to Jabirbhai, who has been referred by inmate Madhub-hai. Madhubhai and Hanif were sharing the same barrack cell.

Hanif also referred to a mysterious maulana, who could help him. He added that his problems were compounded, as his wife (Fahmeeda) too was in jail.

There were references from the holy book, which threw light on Hanif's religious bent of mind. The letter talked about the Gujarat riots that instigated him to carry out the blasts.

The letters went on to add that the Crime Branch had produced fake witnesses in the case and the judge was less humane and more interested in entertaining the cops.

Meet him jail

Ayub had been asked to meet Hanif in Arthur Road jail and talk to him in Urdu. His cap number was given as 1520.

Ayub was advised not to write his address in the letter to jail authorities seeking permission, so that he could pose as Hanif's father-in-law.
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Hanif, his wife and daughter hired a taxi from Andheri to Gateway of India on August 25, 2003. The bomb was concealed as luggage and kept in the boot of the taxi.
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Guilty: Sayyed Mohammed Hanif, a convict in the 2003 twin blasts, being produced at Special POTA court.

They had assumed that the cabbie would be killed in the blast. But Pandey had a providential escape when he left his vehicle to grab a bite.

Twin Blasts Case

The first arrest in the twin blast case at Gateway and Zaveri Bazar on August 25, 2003 was made on September 1.

The accused was identified as Ashrat Ansari, a resident of Juhu Galli, Andheri (E). His interrogation led the police to the couple Hanif Sayyed (46) and his wife Fahmeeda (43), who were arrested immediately after.

Two other accused Mohammed Ansari alias Usman Ladoowala and Mohammed Ansar Shaikh alias Hasan Batterywala were discharged after they were given a clean chit by the POTA Review Committee.

The trial went on for 6 years and yesterday, the special POTA court found the trio guilty. They will be sentenced on August 4.